AGRMX 

LIBRARY 


/to 


THE  LIBRARY 

OF 

THE  UNIVERSITY 
OF  CALIFORNIA 

PRESENTED  BY 

PROF.  CHARLES  A.  KOFOID  AND 
MRS.  PRUDENCE  W.  KOFOID 


MINER'S 


DOMESTIC  POULTRY  BOOK: 


A    TBEATISE  ON   THE 


HISTORY,  BREEDING,  AND  GENERAL  MANAGEMENT 


FOREIGN  AND  DOMESTIC  FOWLS, 

BT 

T.    B.    MINER, 

Author  of  the  "American  Bee-keeper's  Manual,"  &  Editor  of  the  "Northern  Farmer." 

EMBRACING 

All  the  late  Importations  of  Fowls,  and  being  descriptions  by  the  best  Fowl  Fanciers 

in  the  United  States,  of  all  the  most  valuable  breeds,  with  the    Author's 

extensive  experience  as  a  breeder,  together  with  selected  matter  of 

interest,  comprising,  as  it  is  believed,  the  most  complete 

and  authentic  work  on  the  subject  ever  published. 


ILLUSTRATED  BY  NUMEROUS  PORTRAITS  FROM  LIFE. 


ROCHESTER,  N.  Y. 
I  PUBLISHED  BY  GEO.  W.  FISHER, 

ALSO,  A.  S.  BARNE3  &  Co.,  NEW  YORK.— B.  B.  MU3SEY,  BOSTON, 

J.  W.  MOORE,  PHILADELPHIA.— J.  B.  STEELE.  NEW 

ORLEANS.— H.  W.  DERBY,  CINCINNATI. 

1853. 


Entered  according  to  Act  of  Congress,  in  the  year  1863,  by 
T.    B.    MINER, 

In  the  Clerk's  Office  of  the  District  Court  of  the  United  States  for  the  Northern 
District  of  New  York. 


1.  W.  BBOWN.  STEREOTYPES, 


AGRia 
UBfiAfiV 


TO    THE    PUBLIC. 


TOE  undersigned,  feeling  deeply  interested  in  the  improvement  of  our  Domestic 
Poultry,  and  in  the  introduction  of  valuable  foreign  breeds;  and  believing  that  the 
public  require  a  faithful,  practical,  and  reliable  treatise  on  the  subject,  covering  the 
entire  ground  which  hitherto  has  not  been  consummated,  in  consequence  of  the  sud- 
den and  extensive  influx  of  new  breeds  of  fowls,  most  cheerfully  recommends  the 
present  work  of  T.  B.  MINER,  Esq.,  as  one  embracing  most  of  the  breeds  worthy  of 
especial  notice,  and  far  more  complete  than  any  work  that  has  preceded  it.  Many  of 
the  most  valuable  breeds,  of  which  full  histories  are  given  in  Mr.  Miner's  book,  were 
comparatively  unknown  in  America,  even  BO  late  as  the  publication  of  "  The  Poultry 
Book."  That  the  sources  from  which  Mr.  Miner  has  derived  the  most  of  his  matter 
as  shown  forth  in  his  Treatise,  are  reliable  and  of  a  character  to  ensure  a  great 
popularity  for  his  book,  I  can  freely  attest.  His  correspondents  are  mostly  known  to 
me  as  honorable,  well  informed,  and  extensive  breeders,  and,  as  the  Author  of  a  work 
on  the  same  subject — "  The  Poultry  Book," — and  with  the  most  extensive  means  of 
judging  of  the  merits  of  such  productions,  I  can  truly  say  that  Mr.  Miner's  work  is 
the  most  reliable,  practical,  and  complete  that  now  exists  in  the  English  or  any 
other  language,  on  the  same  subject. 

Mr.  Miner's  book  contains  all  the  practical  information  which  I  intended  to  embody 
in  the  subsequent  editions  of  my  Poultry  Book,  and  I,  therefore,  advise  all  of  my 
friends  who  have  been  expecting  from  ine  a  new  and  improved  work,  to  avail  them- 
selves of  Mr.  Miner's  Treatise,  as  I  shall  not  publish  any  future  edition  of  my  book. 

JOHN  C.  BENNETT,  M.  D., 

Author  of  "  The  Poultry  Book." 

FOBT  DKS  MOIKES,  POLK  COUNTY,  IOWA,  J 

December,  1852.  ) 

Dr.  Bennett  resides  at  present  (Jan.,  1858,)  at  Great  Falls,  N.  H.,  but  he  contem- 
plates  removing  to  Iowa  early  next  spring,  consequently  he  dates  from  the  latter 
Place.  T.  B.  M, 


INTRODUCTION. 


THK  business  of  poultry  raising  in  this  country  has  now  become  an 
object  of  great  importance.  Indeed  it  has  ever  been  a  matter  of  im- 
portance ;  but  more  particularly  so  now,  because  within  the  last  five 
years  many  new  breeds  and  varieties  of  fowls  have  been  introduced, 
either  directly  from  foreign  lands,  or  from  the  yards  of  our  own 
poultry  breeders,  many  of  which  have  proved  much  superior  to  our 
native  breeds.  A  feeling  of  public  interest  has  been  awakened  on  this 
subject,  never  before  known;  and  this  has  led  many  persons  to  regard 
the  subject  of  poultry  breeding  as  a  science  worthy  of  their  study  and 
research.  People  have  suddenly  awakened  from  the  slumber  of  ages, 
to  the  fact,  that  this  branch  of  rural  economy  is  susceptible  of  the 
same  advances  to  perfection,  as  the  breeding  of  any  other  class  of 
live  stock. 

The  raising  of  poultry  as  a  business,  sufficient  to  employ  one's  whole 
time,  is  also  receiving  some  attention ;  and  the  desire  to  ascertain 
what  are  the  special  difficulties  in  the  way  to  such  a  business,  and 
how  they  may  be  removed,  seems  to  be  prevalent  to  some  extent. 
Hitherto  but  very  few  persons  in  the  United  States  have  attempted 
the  keeping  of  poultry  on  a  large  scale.  I  presume,  however,  that 
such  a  business  is  not  only  practicable,  but  may  be  made  profitable, 
when  rightly  managed. 

Poultry  raising  is  certainly  profitable  when  kept  even  on  a  moderate 
scale.  Of  this  there  is  not  a  doubt  in  the  minds  of  those  who  have 
tested  the  question  properly.  I  did  myself,  when  a  resident  of  Ra- 
venswood,  Long  Island,  experiment  to  considerable  extent  in  keep- 
ing large  numbers  of  fowls.  I  have  ever  been  from  my  youth  up 
fascinated  with  rural  employments,  and  especially  with  the  raising 
and  management  of  poultry.  My  experience  has  been  of  that  kind 
that  will  enable  me  to  speak  understandingly  on  many  points. 


Ti  INTRODUCTION. 

Perhaps  the  public  may  expect  that  I  should  give  them  the  reasons 
why  I  write  this  Treatise,  when  we  already  have  some  fire  or  six 
works  by  American  authors  on  the  same  subject. 

In  the  first  place  it  may  be  remarked,  that  we  have  no  work  on 
this  subject,  as  it  appears  to  me,  sufficiently  practical.  I  may  not  be 
an  impartial  judge  of  this  question,  but  from  a  careful  perusal  of  the 
various  works  extant,  I  have  been  forcibly  led  to  form  such  a  con- 
clusion. 

Secondly,  such  works  as  we  have  that  are  worthy  of  consideration, 
are,  I  think,  too  prosy  on  subjects  not  immediately  connected  with 
the  interests — the  pockets  of  the  American  public.  We  are  a  go-a-head 
people,  and  as  a  general  thing,  we  read  more  for  profit  than  for  plea- 
sure ;  and  therefore,  when  we  purchase  a  Treatise  on  "  Domestic 
Poultry,"  we  look  to  the  practical  part  of  it  for  a  remuneration  of 
what  it  costs.  Occasionally  a  gentleman  of  leisure  will  desire  a 
full  and  scientific  illustration  of  all  the  minor  points  pertaining  to  the 
subject ;  but  the  great  mass  of  the  people  desire  a  plain,  compact 
Treatise,  that  is  to  the  point  on  all  matters  relating  to  the  successful 
management  of  poultry.  In  my  opinion  these  works  occupy  too 
much  space  with  the  writings  of  ancient  authors  and  modern  foreign 
writers  generally.  We  have  our  own  skillful  breeders  of  poultry, 
whose  experience  is  unsurpassed,  and  whose  opinions  are  far  more 
valuable  to  the  people  of  the  United  States  than  those  of  foreign 
writers  on  this  subject. 

Thirdly,  the  march  of  mind  at  the  present  day  is  onward;  and 
progress,  of  course,  is  the  result.  Hence  where  there  is  a  chance  of 
improvement  in  any  thing  which  exists  among  us,  the  opportunity  is 
quickly  embraced.  Now  I  think  a  new  work  on  the  practical  man- 
agement of  poultry  is  much  needed,  in  order  to  keep  pace  with  the 
new  developments  in  regard  to  the  various  species  of  fowls  which  are 
creating  so  great  an  excitement.  Indeed,  it  is  impossible  to  obtain 
through  the  publications  of  the  day  on  this  subject  any  thing  beyond 
a  mere  fraction  of  the  important  information  now  existing  among  us. 

Since  these  Treatises  were  published,  numerous  importations  of  new 
and  rare  breeds  of  fowls  have  been  made  at  a  great  cost,  the  descrip- 
tions of  which  nowhere  appear  in  the  works  now  before  us.  Now,  it 
will  be,  not  only  my  aim  to  improve  in  the  matter,  but  also  in  the 
price  of  my  work.  The  books  of  the  present  day,  that  are  of  any 
merit  on  the  subject  of  poultry,  are  sold  at  one  dollar.  The  price  of 
this  work  will  show  that  I  have  a  regard  for  the  pockets  of  my  read- 


IXTKODUCTIOTf.  Yfl 

era,  as  well  as  for  their  brains ;  since,  it  actually  contains  as  much 
matter  as  the  Dollar  Works. 

Lastly,  I  give  as  a  reason,  that  I  write  in  hopes  of  receiving  a  com- 
pensation ;  at  least,  in  some  measure,  for  my  time  spent  in  the  produc- 
tion of  this  work.  "  The  laborer  is  worthy  of  his  hire,"  and  I  hope 
to  benefit  myself,  while  I  benefit  my  fellow-men.  I  give  you  the 
result  of  a  life jspent  in  the  pleasing  occupations  of  the  fowl-yard,  to 
a  great  extent,  in  connection  with  other  branches  of  rural  economy. 
I  give  you  the  essence  of  all  the  works  of  the  day  of  any  merit. 
Where  compilation  has  been  necessaiy,  it  has  been  divested  of  vague 
and  undefined  hypotheses,  and  of  all  other  useless  matter :  the  wheat 
being  thus  gleaned  and  sifted  from  the  chaff. 

The  rapid  growth  of  our  cities  and  large  towns  is  daily  increasing 
the  demand  for  poultry  and  eggs ;  and  this  demand  will  continue  to 
increase,  and  hence  it  is  highly  important  that  farmers,  and  all  other 
persons  who  can  keep  fowls,  should  awake  to  the  advantages  of 
procuring  the  most  profitable  kinds,  and  to  learning  the  best  methods 
of  management,  that  they  may  realize  the  greatest  annual  profits. 

The  quantity  of  eggs  consumed  daily  in  the  city  of  New  York  is 
not  less  than  four  hundred  barrels,  or  about 400,000  eggs!  Some  of 
the  large  hotels  in  that  city  use  about  two  hundred  dozen  per  day.  In 
a  year  the  enormous  number  of  146,000,000  eggs  are  sold  there,  worth, 
at  least,  $2,000,000,  taking  the  high  prices  of  winter  into  the  account. 
The  sales  of  poultry  and  eggs  amount  to  about  $3,000,000 ! 

The  sale  of  eggs  in  Boston  in  1849,  amounted  to  about  $1,000,000 ! 
So  say  the  Committee  of  Supervision  of  the  great  Poultry  Fair,  held 
in  that  city  in  November,  1849. 

The  value  of  poultry  in  the  State  of  New  York,  according  to  the 
latest  census  returns,  is  about  $2,500,000,  and  in  the  whole  United 
States,  $15,000,000. 

Are  not  these  facts  sufficient  to  arouse  the  public  mind  to  the  im- 
portance of  raising  poultry  and  eggs  ?  Our  Railroads  can  now  carry 
poultry  500  miles  to  market  in  about  twenty  hours ;  yet  with  all  the 
new  facilities  for  rapid  transportation,  both  poultry  and  eggs  continue 
to  rise  in  value. 

It  will  also  be  my  special  aim  to  give  the  most  reliable  information 
in  regard  to  fowls  that  can  possibly  be  obtained.  My  correspondence 
with  the  breeders  in  this  country  is  very  extensive  ;  and  I  can  assure 
the  public  that  no  labor,  nor  expense  has  been  spared,  to  furnish  a  book 
in  which  they  can  put  the  utmost  confidence.  That  the  work  will 


Vlll  INTRODUCTION. 

have  errors  of  type,  of  history,  and  of  judgment,  I  cannot  doubt.  Per- 
haps no  human  work  on  any  subject  is  free  from  error  of  some  kind ; 
and  I  shall  not  claim  infallibility  in  this  Treatise.  I  shall  use  the 
writings  of  others  moderately  where  the  subject  I  am  treating  on  will 
be  elucidated  thereby;  and  I  hope  no  one  will  be  able  to  accuse 
me  of  not  giving  the  proper  credit,  as  has  been  the  case  with  other 
writers  on  this  subject  who  have  preceded  me.  I  shall  also  discard 
much  of  the  matter  now  existing  in  the  pages  of  my  predecessors, 
•  which  seems  to  be  of  little  practical  value,  but  inserted  apparently,  for 
the  want  of  more  important  matter  to  help  to  fill  up  and  swell  their 
•volumes  to  the  dollar  size.  Truth  demands  this  assertion,  however 
harshly  it  may  grate  upon  the  ears  of  the  writers  of  the  works  refer- 
red to.  It  is  too  often  the  practice  of  the  present  day  to  extend  a 
little  matter  to  a  great  sized  volume,  in  order  to  command  a  higher 
price.  We  often  see  large  books  with  small  pages,  and  broad  margins, 
and  the  types  large  and  leaded,  that  is,  the  lines  wide  apart ;  and  in 
this  manner  purchasers  are  made  to  pay  for  large  books  at  high  prices, 
when  their  contents  may  just  as  well  be  condensed  into  books  of 
half  the  size,  and  sold  at  half  the  price.  The  pages  of  this  work  are 
equal  in  size  to  the  dollar  works  on  this  subject,  but  not  so  much 
margin  is  allowed,  and  by  using  small  type  to  a  great  extent,  and 
setting  it  solid,  the  work  is  in  a  form  that  admits  of  its  being  retailed 
at  the  low  price  of  fifty  cents  in  paper  covers.  In  the  arrangement 
of  the  various  breeds  of  poultry,  I  wish  it  to  be  understood,  that  I  do 
not  give  particular  breeds  a  precedence  over  others  in  regard  to  their 
value,  in  consequence  of  such  breeds  being  presented  first  in  the  work. 
N"or  do  I  attempt  to  form  any  particular  classification  on  the  score  of 
genealogy. 

No  work  of  value  on  Domestic  Poultry  can  be  produced  without 
comprising  the  Essays  of  gentlemen  engaged  in  rearing  fowls.  That 
some  of  these  Essays  may  be  rather  highly  colored  for  interested 
purposes,  is  quite  probable  ;  yet  this  is  the  only  way  in  which  we  can 
get  information  from  those  who  breed  them.  And  if  they  desire  to 
effect  sales  of  their  own  particular  breeds  by  publishing  glowing 
accounts  of  them,  we  must  make  due  allowance  for  these  things, 
when  and  where  we  think  best. 

It  has  been  my  endeavor  to  procure  information  from  gentlemen  of 
known  probity  and  standing  in  society ;  and  I  am  happy  to  say,  if  that 
which  I  now  impart  from  my  correspondents,  is  not  correct,  we  may 
consider  it  utterly  impossible  to  obtain  correct  information  on  the 


INTRODUCTION.  IX 

subjects  now  treated  on.  My  correspondents  stand  high  in  the  estima- 
tion of  the  society  where  they  live ;  and  for  my  own  part,  I  do  i:ot 
believe  that  one  of  them  has  uttered  an  expression  in  regard  to  any 
breed  of  fowls  in  which  he  was  not  sincere,  or  by  which  he  intended, 
from  interested  motives,  to  deceive  the  public.  Reliance  may  be 
placed  ou  the  information  communicated  by  them.  Indeed  all  the 
sources  from  which  statements  are  made,  or  arguments  drawn  in  this 
work,  may  be  regarded  as  correct,  and  entitled  to  the  credence  of  the 
public. 

I  may  be  permitted  at  the  close  of  these  introductory  remarks, 
simply  and  briefly  to  state,  that  my  great  object  in  writing  this 
Treatise  on  Poultry  is  to  produce  facts  not  theories ;  truths,  not  fancies, 
on  an  interesting  branch  of  rural  economy,  and  hence  to  communicate 
Buch  reliable  information  as  will  be  calculated  to  benefit  the  public. 

"Whether  I  have  done  so,  it  is  not  for  me  to  say.  This  I  shall  submit 
to  the  judgment  of  the  public,  and  let  them  decide. 

All  new  and  important  matter  will  appear  in  subsequent  editions 
of  this  work,  as  often  as  shall  be  deemed  necessary ;  in  the  meantime, 
the  "Northern  Farmer"  will  be  the  means  of  transmission  to  the 
public. 

TUB  AUTHOR. 
CLINTON,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 


PART    I. 

DESCRIPTION  OP  THE  DIFFERENT  BREEDS  AND  YARIETIES  0? 
DOMESTIC 


WHITE     DORKINGS. 

The  Dorkings  originated  in  Dorking,  England,  and  were 
originally  a  pure  white.  Subsequently  the  colored  Dorkings 
were  produced  in  Surrey,  England,  from  a  cross  with  the  Malay, 
as  it  is  asserted,  but  without  positive  evidence  of  the  alleged 
fact. 

The  pure  Dorkings  have  a  supernumerary  toe ;  but  the  exist- 
ence of  the  fifth  toe  is  not  always  evidence  of  the  fowl  being  of 
this  breed. 

The  cuts  here  shown  are  portraits  from  life  of  fowls  owned  by 
Dr.  Eben  Wight,  of  Dedham,  Mass.,  a  gentleman  well  known 


12  WHITE   DORKINGS. 

as  an  experienced  importer  and  breeder  of  fowls.  It  is  said  that 
white  Dorkings  are  nearly  extinct  in  England,  and  that  the 
colored  varieties  are  highly  esteemed.  It  is  quite  probable  that 
this  is  true — not  from  the  alleged  fact,  that  the  colored  varieties 
are  better,  but  from  the  positive  fact  that  people  are  generally  so 
careless,  that  they  cannot,  or  will  not  keep  any  breed  long  in  its 
purity. 

Richardson,  an  English  author,  says : 

"The  color  of  the  Dorking  is  generally  pure  white,  spotted  or 
spangled  with  black ;  these  colors  will  sometimes  merge  into  a  grey 
or  grizzel.  The  hens  weigh  from  seven  to  nine  pounds  ;  stand  low  on 
their  legs;  and  round,  plump,  and  short  in  the  body;  wide  on  the 
breast,  with  abundance  of  white,  juicy  flesh.  The  hens  are  generally 
good  layers,  and  their  eggs,  though  smaller  than  the  eggs  of  the  Span- 
ish and  Polish  breeds,  are  of  good  size,  and  well  flavored.  The  price 
of  pure  speckled  Dorkings  is  about  20s.  the  pair,  ($4.44.)  These  birds 
have  been  long  prized,  and  it  is  now  many  years  since  their  superiori- 
ty over  our  ordinary  domestic  varieties  was  originally  discovered  and 
appreciated.  In  this,  and  all  other  varieties  of  fowl,  fresh  blood  should 
be  introduced  from  time  to  time,  or  the  breed  degenerates." 

Mr.  D.  P.  Newell,  of  Rochester,  writes  as  follows : 

"  Dear  Sir, — In  complying  with  your  request,  I  would  say,  that  I 
have  bred  some  of  the  choicest  kinds  of  fowls,  and  have  come  to  the 
conclusion  that  the  pure  white  Dorking  is  the  best  breed  we  have. 
They  have  more  good  qualities  than  any  other  fowl.  They  are  easily 
kept,  hardy  and  easy  to  rear,  have  little  waste  of  offal,  mature  young, 
and  commence  laying  when  from  four  to  five  months  old.  For  the 
table,  I  believe,  it  is  conceded  by  all  discriminating  epicures  that 
they  have  not  an  equal.  I  have  one  white  Dorking  hen  imported  by 
Mr.  Scott,  of  Victor,  which  has  layed  for  nine  months  past.  She  com- 
menced when  four  months  old  and  is  laying  now.  I  believe  it  would 
be  safe  to  say  that  she  has  laid  at  least  one  hundred  and  fifty  eggs,  and 
has  not  offered  to  set.  I  have  kept  during  the  last  season,  five  differ- 
ent breeds,  among  which  are  the  black  and  golden  Polands;  but  my 
pure  white  Dorkings  have  laid  better  than  any  breed.  The  fawn- 
colored  Dorking  is  doubtless  a  cross  between  the  white  Dorking  and 
Malay.  I  have  raised  the  speckled  and  fawn-colored  Dorkings  this 
season  from  the  above  crosses.  The  speckled  Dorking  is  also  a  cross 
between  the  golden  Poland,  and  the  white  Dorking.  My  chickens 
have  the  fifth  toe,  and  other  usual  marks  of  the  Dorking  fowl.  I  have 
Dr.  Eben  Wight's  and  Mr.  Scott's  importations,  and  shall  breed  them 
with  great  care,  selecting  a  cock  from  one  importation,  and  a  hen 
from  the  other ;  and  I  have  yet  to  be  convinced  that  the  world  can 
produce  any  thing  superior  to  the  White  Surrey  Dorkings" 

Maine,  a  foreign  writer,  says : 

"  The  most  valuable  variety  for  the  table  at  present  is  the  Dorking 
breed.  This  is  pure  white ;  and  highly  esteemed  for  whiteness  and 


WHITE    DORKINGS.  13 

delicacy  of  flesh  when  served  at  table.  They  also  fetch  a  high  price 
at  market.  Among  breeders,  real  Dorking  cocks  sell  for  from  five  to 
ten  shillings  (sterling)  each.  This  breed  makes  an  excellent  stock  for 
the  farm  or  market.  They  fat  well,  lay  well,  and  rear  well ;  are  hand- 
some alive,  and  show  delicately  white  and  advantageous  when  plucked 
and  dressed  for  mai'ket.  Their  feathers  also  being  fine  and  of  good 
color,  can  be  substituted  many  of  them  for  geese  feathers,  consequent- 
ly they  bring  a  higher  price." 

In  all  the  writings  that  have  appeared  in  this  country  on 
poultry,  the  Dorkings  have,  I  believe,  never  been  spoken  of  but 
in  terms  of  high  commendation.  George  P.  Burnham,  Esq., 
of  Boston,  in  the  New  England  Cultivator,  says : 

"  The  origin  of  the  Dorking  fowl  is  generally  conceded  to  the  town 
of  Dorking,  Surrey  County,  England,  where  for  a  century  and  a  half, 
this  variety  has  been  kept  and  bred  in  great  purity.  The  best  fowls 
known  there,  are  purely  white  in  color — withi*ose  combs,  flesh-colored 
legs  and  bills,  and  five  toes.  There  are  other  fowls  in  England,  as  well 
as  in  this  countrv,  which  are  called  Dorkings — for  the  reason  that  the 
white  fowl  has  become  so  deservedly  popular,  and  so  saleable ;  but 
these  last  named  are  generally  a  mixture  of  the  white  fowl  with  the 
native  breeds,  or  a  cross  of  the  noble  white  Dorking  with  the  old 
'Surrey'  fowl  (so  called,)  or  some  other  mongrel. 

"  The  best  authorities  on  poultry  give  the  name  of  '  Dorking '  to 
the  white  variety — that  these  are  a  large  fowl,  however,  we  believe, 
is  not  claimed  for  the  Dorking,  generally.  We  have  never  seen  a  pair 
of  them  that  would  weigh  over  eight  to  eight  and  a  half  pounds  for  the 
cock,  and  five  to  six  pounds  for  the  hen.  They  possess  remarkable 
good  qualities,  however,  in  other  respects;  and  have  their  advocates, 
very  decidedly,  among  fanciers  and  breeders.  Dr.  Wight,  we  believe, 
was  one  of  the  first  who  imported  these  fowls  from  England  into  the 
United  States. 

"In  form,  the  Dorking  is  compact,  short-legged,  possessing  very 
little  offal,  and  is  a  handsome  modeled  bird.  The  hens  are  excellent 
layers,  and  the  very  best  of  mothers,  always.  They  are  moderate 
feeders,  and  for  the  table  are  very  choice — the  meat  of  this  fowl  being 
short-grained,  juicy  and  daintily  flavored. 

"There  has  been  an  attempt,  with  one  or  two  breeders  in  this  re- 
gion, to  palm  off  upon  the  unsophisticated,  a  cross  between  the  white 
Dorking  or  the  'Surrey'  fowl,  with  the  Great  Malay,  or  other  Chinese 
bird — a  mongrel,  which  has  been  denominated  for  the  time  being,  the 
'  speckled  Dorking'  or  the  'grey  Dorking,'  but  with  very  indifferent  suc- 
cess. The  fanciers  who  tried  this  experiment,  have  given  it  up ;  and 
so  we  will  only  quote  the  following  authorities  in  regard  to  the  color 
of  the  Dorkings,  and  leave  the  speculators  in  '  grey  Dorkings'  to  get 
out  of  their  permanent  investments  as  best  they  may  ! 

"  A  correspondent  of  Dr.  Kerr,  in  his  late  '  Domestic  Poultry,'  thinks 
the  only  color  which  is  thrown  by  the  thorough-bred  Dorking,  is 
white ;  with  white  legs  and  bills,  and  a  fifth  toe.  "  He  adds  that  the 
white  Dorkings  have  been  largely  bred  "in-and-in,"  and  have  never 


14  WHITE    DORKINGS. 

varied  in  color.  Mowbray,  Dickson,  Maine,  and  other  known  authors, 
contend  that  white  is  the  true  color  for  the  purely-bred  Dorking. 

"Mr.  Nolan,  of  Dublin,  in  his  recent  work,  speaking  of  the  Chitta- 
gong  fowl,  says  that  '  their  plumage  is  speckled  grey,  and  there  is  no 
doubt  of  their  being  crossed  on  the  Dorking,  which  fowl  they  resemble 
in  shape,  and  then  produce  what  is  denominated  the  grey  Dorking.' 
Here  we  have  Mr.  Nolan's  assertion,  who  is  considered  one  of  the  very 
best  informed  men  on  poultry  in  the  world,  that  the  '  grey '  or  '  speck- 
led Dorking '  is  nothing  but  a  cross  of  the  white  Dorking  with  the 
Malay  or  Chittagong. 

"  A  few  so  called  '  speckled '  Dorkings  have  been  imported  from 
England,  latterly,  by  enthusiastic  fanciers,  but  we  are  informed  that 
they  give  very  little  satisfaction,  upon  a  more  intimate  acquaintance, 
and  that  these  gentlemen  are  ready  to  fall  back  upon  their  original 
fowls,  the  white  variety,  after  giving  the  others  a  fair  trial. 

"  There  are  very  few  varieties  so  highly  prized  as  are  these,  and 
none  excel  them  for  all  the  good  qualities  desired  in  a  domestic  fowl." 

The  following  is  from  Mr.  H.  V.  N.  Dimmick,  a  breeder 
of  experience  at  Hubbard's  Corners,  Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.  He 
refers  to  colored  Dorkings  in  his  allusion  to  Mr.  Rotch's  stock : 

''I  was  very  much  gratified  to  see  a  true  description  of  the  'Dork- 
ing fowl '  in  the  January  number  of  the  Northern  Farmer ;  so  that 
those  who  are  anxious  to  obtain  that  very  valuable  fowl,  may  be  the 
better  able  to  judge  of  what  they  are  about  to  purchase.  I  have  rais- 
ed the  '  Dorkings'  some  three  or  four  years.  I  have  them  from  both 
Mr.  Kotch  and  Dr.  "Wight's  stock ;  and  in  regard  to  flesh,  I  think  they 
cannot  be  surpassed,  nor  even  equaled,  although  I  think  they  are  not 
as  good  as  many  other  fowls  in  regard  to  laying  properties  alone,  but 
both  combined,  they  are  truly  a  valuable  fowL" 


.  WHITE    DORKINGS. 


15 


Mr.  Newell,  the  owner  of  the  Dorking  fowl  here  represented, 
in  a  subsequent  communication,  writes  as  follows  : 

"The  above  portrait  was  drawn  from  life,  and  is  a  correct  represen- 
tation of  my  pure  white  Surrey  Dorking  rooster :  these  fowls  have 
long,  round  and  large,  plump  bodies,  with  a  broad,  full  chest,  like  a 
'partridge.  Both  the  crower  and  hen  are  invariably  white,  from  bill 
to  toe.  Abundant  proof  is  furnished  by  Mowbray,  W.  B.  Dickson,  and 
others.  They  have  been  the  choice  market  fowl  in  England  for  the 
last  twenty  years,  and  in  this  country  they  hold  the  same  rank  among 
poultry  which  the  Durhams  do  among  cattle.  They  will  produce 
more  weight  in  eggs  and  flesh,  and  of  a  better  cpality,  than  any  other 
variety  on  the  same  amount  of  food ;  and  as  sitters  and  mothers  can- 
not be  surpassed  by  any  other  breed  of  fowls.  Dr.  E.  Wight,  of  Mas- 


16  WHITE   DORKINGS. 

sachusetts,  of  whom  I  obtained  part  of  my  Dorkings,  remarks  that  they 
are  a  hardy  bird,  and  their  young  easily  reared — a  fact  of  great  im- 
portance in  this  climate.  The  partridge  should  be  the  standard  for  the 
shape  of  fowls.  It  will  be  found  in  general,  that  the  nearer  this  form 
is  approached,  the  better  will  be  the  flesh,  and  the  greater  the  quanti- 
ty in  proportion  to  the  bone. 

"The  Dorking  comes  nearer  to' this  standard  than  any  other  variety. 
I  have  two  diiferent  importations  of  the  pure  Surrey  white  Dorkings ; 
consequently,  my  fowls  are  not  related,  as  they  never  should  be,  if 
you  wish  for  strong,  healthy  and  vigorous  chickens.  When  well  bred, 
I  know  not  a  better  fowl.  In  truth,  I  might  say  of  them,  as  the  pious 
ISAAC  WALTON  was  wont  to  say  of  the  trout,  his  favorite  fish: — 'God 
might  have  made  a  better  fish,  but  he  did  not ;'  so  of  the  pure,  unadul- 
terated Dorking." 

During  the  present  season,  (1852,)  the  white  Dorkings  have 
shown  the  want  of  an  infusion  of  fresh  blood  very  much ;  and 
they  have  in  many  cases  manifested  a  delicacy  and  tendency  to 
deterioration  that  will  soon  ruin  this  breed,  unless  remedied  by 
sending  for  fresh  stock  from  England,  or  procuring  stock  from 
different  importations  into  this  country.  Dr.  Eben  Wight,  and 
Mr.  Scott  of  Victor,  are  the  only  gentlemen  who  have  made 
importations  of  this  breed,  to  my  knowledge.  Dr.  Wight  has, 
I  believe,  made  several  recent  importations  for  the  purpose 
of  remedying  the  above  evil.  The  white  Dorkings  that  I 
have  raised  are  from  Dr.  Wight's  celebrated  stock,  yet  I  cannot 
recommend  them,  nor  indeed  any  stock  of  this  breed,  until  an 
improvement  shall  have  been  made  by  avoiding  the  ruinous 
practice  of  a  close  in-and-in  breeding.  I  have  made  arrange- 
ments for  procuring  fresh  blood. 

As  I  have  no  interest  to  subserve,  save  the  embodiment  of 
reliable  facts  in  this  work,  I  shall  present  such  information,  as 
shall  come  into  my  possession,  either  from  my  own  experience, 
or  otherwise,  that  will  give  a  truthful  description  of  all  the 
various  breeds,  and  varieties  of  fowls  among  us,  so  far  as  I  am 
capable  of  doing,  however  much  it  may  clash  with  the  opinions 
of  other  writers.  That  all  white  Dorkings  have  degenerated, 
I  am  not  prepared  to  say;  but  my  own  have,  and  I  have  learned 
of  numerous  instances  that  sufficiently  corroborate  my  state- 
ments, to  satisfy  me  that  I  may  safely  say,  that  this  breed  has 
generally  become  so  delicate  in  this  country,  from  the  causes 
before  mentioned,  that  they  are  not  a  desirable  breed  to  rear  for 
profit,  either  as  a  market  or  table  fowl.  That  the  quality  of 
the  flesh  of  the  white  Dorking  is  of  the  most  tender,  juicy  and 
fine  flavor,  there  is  no  doubt,  neither  is  there  any  doubt  as  to 


SPECKLED   DORKINGS.  17 

their  shape  being  a  model  for  all  fowl  fanciers  to  seek  for ;  but 
under  the  circumstances,  I  think  it  for  the  interest  of  the  public 
to  cross  them  with  any  good  breed  till  fresh  blood  shall  be  attain- 
able, rather  than  to  attempt  to  breed  them  pure.  If  Mr.  Newell, 
our  correspondent,  or  Dr.  Wight  can  furnish  fowls  that  shall  be 
hardy,  and  of  their  original  beauty,  compactness  and  weight, 
and  not  suffering  from  a  want  of  fresh  blood,  then  I  have  noth- 
ing to  say ;  but  I  am  satisfied  in  my  own  mind  that  they  cannot 
do  it,  unless  it  be  from  recent  importations.  There  is  obviously 
a  tendency  in  white  Dorkings  of  pure  blood  to  deteriorate,  or  to 
become  less  hardy  and  vigorous,  and  consequently  more  liable  to 
debility  and  sickness,  and  this  important  fact  regarding  them 
should  be  made  known,  that  the  public  may  be  able  to  form 
a  correct  opinion  respecting  these  fowls.  In  justice  to  Mr.  New- 
ell, however,  I  will  say,  that  his  opinion  on  this  subject  is  changed 
from  what  it  was,  so  far  as  regards  the  necessity  of  obtaining 
fresh  blood,  when  he  furnished  the  preceding  articles  for  the 
Northern  Farmer,  (see  advertisement  of  this  publication  in  the 
back  of  this  work,)  from  which  a  portion  of  the  matter  con- 
tained in  this  Treatise  is  copied,  and  he  has  taken  measures,  I 
believe,  to  reinstate  his  stock  in  vigor  and  change  of  blood. 
These  fowls  now  command  from  $5  to  $10  a  pair,  and  eggs 
from  $3  to  $5  per  dozen. 

SPECKLED   DORKINGS. 

This  breed,  or  variety  of  fowls  possess  the  general  character- 
istics of  the  white  Dorking  to  a  great  extent,  except  color ; 
and  are  so  much  akin  to  them,  that  I  have  not  thought  it  expe- 
dient to  procure  cuts  of  them.  The  cut  that  follows  on  page  24, 
representing  the  Surrey  fowl,  may  be  said  to  be  a  true  portrait 
of  this  breed,  as  well  as  of  the  fowl  it  is  intended  to  represent. 

It  is  yet  a  disputed  point,  how  these  fowls  originated.  Some 
fowl  fanciers  contend  that  they  are  a  pure  breed,  and  will  pro- 
duce their  like,  while  others  assert  that  they  ^originated  in  a 
cross,  and  therefore  should  be  termed  a  variety. '  It  will  not  be 
my  object  to  treat  at  length  on  any  of  the  numerous  disputed 
points  pertaining  to  fowls,  of  no  immediate,  or  particular 
importance  to  the  American  breeder,  but  to  come  direct  to  the 
point,  and  show  what  the  fowls  are,  not  what  they  were.  I  have 
no  room  for  such  matter,  unless  I  run  out  my  pages  to  an  extent 
that  would  produce  a  too  large  and  too  expensive  work ;  hence 


18  SPECKLED    DORKINGS. 

I  have  omitted  the  usual  long,  dull,  and  uninteresting  introduc- 
tion that  generally  precedes  the  practical  matter  in  works  of  this 
kind,  treating  of  the  origin,  <fec.,  of  the  gallinaceous  tribes,  which 
must  of  necessity  be  mere  speculation,  inasmuch  as  the  truth  can 
never  be  developed. 

L.  F.  Allen,  Esq.,  of  Black  Rock,  N.  Y.,  was  among  the 
first,  if  not  the  first  person  who  imported  the  speckled  Dorkings 
into  this  country.  He  has  bred  them  some  ten  years,  and  has 
kept  them  pure,  if  they  can  be  called  a  pure  breed.  They 
must,  however,  now  be  considered  a  pure  breed,  I  think,  or 
they  would  have  degenerated  and  "  cried  back"  to  their  pro- 
genitors. Crosses  generally  when  bred  in-and-in,  will  rapidly 
degenerate,  and  sooner  or  later  run  into  the  breeds  from  which 
they  originated,  or  show  the  main  characteristics  of  such  breeds. 
This  is  termed  "  crying  back."  To  produce  in  time,  a  pure 
breed  from  a  cross,  is  asserted  by  some  writers  as  possible  to 
effect,  and  if  so,  the  speckled  Dorkings  are  probably  an  instance 
of  such  a  result. 

Mr.  Allen  is  still  rapturous  in  praise  of  his  speckled  Dorkings 
as  a  table  fowl.  He  challenges  the  whole  country  to  show 
Dorkings  with  him.  He  exhibited  his  best  specimens  at  the 
New  York  State  Fair  at  Rochester,  in  September,  1851,  and 
took  the  premium  on  that  breed. 

He  writes  me  under  date  of  April  20th,  1851 : 

"The  Dorking  fowls  are  no  better  than  the  well  selected  common 
fowls  of  our  own  country,  in  any  respect,  except  their  fine,  full,  com- 
pact, broad  bodies,  as  an  article  of  food.  For  that  they  exceed  any 
other  fowls  I  ever  saw.  They  are  tender,  do.  not  lay  so  well,  and  are 
less  prolific  than  the  others." 

Here  we  have  the  whole  story  in  a  nut-shell,  so  far  as  per- 
tains to  the  colored  Dorkings.  The  authority  is  the  best  in  the 
country — from  ten  years'  experience,  and  from  one  who  was 
some  two  years  endeavoring  to  obtain  his  stock  in  England, 
through  his  agent  there,  because  he  would  have  none  but  the 
best  in  Surrey,  and  the  breeders  had  formed  an  alliance  for  the 
purpose  of  preventing  any  of  the  breed  leaving  the  country  alive. 

These  fowls  have  the  extra  fifth  toe,  as  well  as  the  white 
Dorkings,  but  crosses  will  also  produce  this  extra  toe,  hence 
it  is  difficult  for  the  purchaser  to  ascertain  whether  the 
fowls  he  wishes  to  buy  are  pure,  or  not.  I  have  no  hesitation 
in  saying,  that  a  large  portion  of  all  the  various  fowls  in  this 
country  alleged  to  be  pure,  are  more  or  less  tinctured  with  cross- 


..SPECKLED    DORKINGS.  19 

ed  blood,  and  purchasers  should  be  very  careful,  and  select 
fowls  from  breeders  of  well  known  reputation.  Purchasers 
will  often  procure  half  breeds,  or  other  crosses,  at  a  low  price, 
and  when  they  get  them  home,  pronounce  them  the  real  "  Si- 
mon pures,"  and  thus  the  character  of  the  really  pure  and  good 
fowl  is  made  to  suffer. 

The  weight  of  speckled  Dorkings  is  somewhat  heavier  than 
that  of  the  white  breed  ;  that  is,  the  best  specimens  ;  say  about 
eight  pounds  for  a  cock,  and  five  to  six  for  a  pullet,  still  there 
are  some  that  exceed  this  weight. 

They  are  also  tender,  but  not  so  delicate  as  a  large  portion 
of  the  white  Dorkings  among  us.  Their  flesh  is  excellent,  and 
their  shape  nearly,  if  not  quite  up  to  the  model  "white  Dork- 
ings. 

The  combs  of  both  breeds  are  sometimes  single,  and  some- 
times double,  the  double  comb  being  the  result  of  too  long 
in-and-in  breeding,  as  is  asserted ;  but  I  am  not  prepared  to 
fully  endorse  this  allegation. 

The  following  article  is  from  Francis  Piotch,  Esq.,  the  well 
known  importer  and  breeder  of  this  kind  of  fowls.  It  was 
furnished  for  this  work,  and  the  Northern  Farmer.  Mr.  Rotch 
states  in  a  private  note  that  "  he  has  no  desire  to  make  sales." 
I  allude  to  this  fact  to  show,  that  what  he  asserts  is  not  stated 
from  interested  motives : 


MORRIS,  Otsego  Co.,  K  Y.,  Sept.  4,  1852 

Dear  Sir, — I  infer  from  the  frequent  statements  and  remarks  upon 
poultry,  published  in  the  agricultural  journals,  that  much  interest 
continues  to  be  felt  on  the  subject ;  and  any  information  I  may  offer 
in  reply  to  your  inquiries,  though  late,  may  not  be  out  of  time.  Not 
that  I  have  much  to  say  beyond  a  remark  or  two  which  may  correct 
the  attempt  lately  made  by  the  Boston  fanciers,  to  rest  the  purity  of 
the  Dorking  fowl  on  color,  or  rather  on  no  color,  and  to  rule  out  as 
mongrels  all  birds  that  do  not  happen  to  be  white  ! 

I  may,  perhaps,  claim  to  be  some  authority  in  the  case,  inasmuch 
as  my  school  days  were  passed  in  the  County  of  Surrey ;  and  my  play- 
ground, when  visiting  at  Bury-Hill,  (the  then  residence  of  Robert 
Barclay,  Esq.,)  extended  to  the  very  outskirts  of  Dorking  itself. 
From  that  early  period  to  the  present  time,  covering  an  interval  of 
nearly  .fifty  years,  my  experience  has  but  confirmed  my  early  prefer- 
ence in  favor  of  the  Dorking  as  a  fowl  of  general  usefulness  and  beau- 
ty— not  so  handsome,  I  must  allow,  as  that  ready  swordsman,  the 
swaggering,  stylish  game-cock,  nor  as  those  little,  coquettish  brunettes 
that  are  mated  with  him  ;  still  the  Dorking  is  a  quite  stately,  substan- 
tial fellow,  and' though  his  companions  may  not  have  the  same  pert, 


20  SPECKLED    DORKINGS. 

jaunty  air  as  the  games,  yet  there  is  a  house-keeping,  satisfying  look 
about  them,  a  development  that  will  go  far  in  recommending  them 
to  the  many. 

You  will  perceive  mine  is  not  altogether  the  dollar  and  cent  appre- 
ciation of  a  poulterer,  but  that  I  have  a  full  value  for  the  beautiful ; 
a  fancy,  that  is  not  satisfied  with  the  tailless,  booted  breeds  of  India, 
shorn  as  they^  are  of  those  beautiful  and  graceful  plumes  which,  in 
all  other  varieties,  give  a  balance  to  the  bird,  a  justness  to  his  pro- 
portions, and  a  stateliness  to  his  every  movement.  In  the  little, 
strutting,  booted  Bantam,  a  feathered  leg  may  be  all  very  well,  and 
does  but  complete  his  foppishness,  for  he  values  them,  and  takes  care 
of  them;  but  the  neglected  and  broken  feathers  on  a  long-limbed 
"  Booby-fowl,"  do  but  increase  the  awkwardness  of  his  appearance, 
and  the  clumsiness  of  his  gait. 

But  to  return  to  my  more  immediate  subject,  the  "  Dorking." 
There  is  in  every  thing  a  fashion ;  and  when  I  was  a  youth,  white 
was  the  aristocratic  color  then  in  vogue,  not  only  for  its  beauty,  but 
because  it  was  less  common  than  the  darker  colored.  But  in  course 
of  time  these  gave  way  to  the  stronger  bird  of  more  varied  plumage 
which,  then  as  now,  was  a  larger,  better  constitutioned  fowl;  and 
proved  a  better  subject  for  the  disgusting  process  of  "  cramming" — a 
practice  then  in  common  use  with  those  who  fatted  poultry  for  the 
London  market. 

As  late  as  1846,  I  was  in  the  yards  of  the  celebrated  dealers  in 
fancy  poultry,  the  Messrs.  Bakers,  of  Chelsea,  and  at  No.  3, 
Half-Moon  passage,  London,  and  was  there  shown  a  lot  of  very  fine 
speckled  and  brown  Dorkings  which  I  afterwards  learned  were  intend- 
ed for  the  exhibition  of  poultry,  about  to  be  held  in  the  Zoological 
Garden.  Is  it  to  be  supposed  that  such  men  would  risk  their  reputa- 
tion by  exhibiting  mongrels  in  so  keen  a  competition  as  they  were 
certain  to  encounter  on  that  occasion?  In  1845  I  was  present  at  one 
of  the  Societies'  exhibitions,  and  saw  there  half  a  dozen  cages  of  col- 
ored Dorkings  to  one  of  white. 

But  lest  all  this  should  not  be  evidence  enough  to  satisfy  the  exclu- 
sives,  I  will  quote  for  their  benefit,  from  a  work,  the  second  edition  ot 
which  appeared  in  1823,  entitled  "  A  Picturesque  Promenade  round 
Dorking  in  Surrey."  At  page  100  will  be  found  the  following  state- 
ments : 

"An  incredible  quantity  of  poultry  is  usually  sold  at  the  weekly 
markets.  This  trade  is  chiefly  in  the  hands  of  a  few  individuals  who 
regularly  attend  and  supply  the  London  dealers.  There  is  also  a 
breed  of  fowls  with  five  claws,  well  known  among  the  poulterers  in 
the  metropolis  by  the  appellation  of  Dorking  fowls ;  one  sort  is  per- 
fectly white,  and  another  of  a  partridge  color.  Columella  in  his 
Husbandry,  describes  fowls  of  this  kind,  and  it  is  conjectured  that  they 
were  originally  brought  here  by  the  .Romans." 

Now,  gentlemen  of  the  hen-coop,  I  hope  we  shall  hear  no  more 
about  white  Dorkings  being  the  only  pure  birds  of  the  breed.  In 
my  opinion,  they  will  do  very  well  if  they  can  hold  their  own,  in  the 
more  important  points  of  a  good  fowl,  with  the  colored  Dorkings. 

Yours,  (fee.,  R. 


SPECKLED    DORKINGS.  21 

The  following  was  communicated  for  the  Northern  Farmer, 
and  not  having  space  for  its  immediate  publication,  I  insert  it 
here,  though  the  writer  thought  it  a  too  off-handed  production 
for  a  book,  but  I  consider  it  just  the  thing.  When  we  make  a 
book,  we  should  speak  to  our  readers  in  a  plain,  familiar  style, 
and  not  attempt  to  please  by  fine,  flowery  sentiments  altogether. 
Furthermore  I  shall  not  follow  the  formal  rules  of  a  nice  divi- 
sion and  sub-division  of  all  subjects  pertaining  to  my  work, 
but  shall  write  as  "  the  spirit  moves  me,"  taking  no  fore- 
thought of  what  I  shall  say,  till  the  time  shall  arrive  to  trans- 
fer my  sentiments  to  paper ;  and  matter  that  would  be  appro- 
priate in  my  Preface,  may  be  found  "interspersed,  in  a  few  cases, 
through  this  work. 

Mr.  Editor, — The  early  history  of  the  Dorking  seems  to  be  involved 
in  uncertainty.  From  the  best  information  that  can  be  obtained,  it 
appears  that  County  Surrey,  England,  has  for  the  last  century  been, 
celebrated  for  a  valuable  breed  of  fowls.  The  town  of  Dorking,  in  this 
county,  lays  claim  to  the  honor  of  having  originated  these  beautiful 
birds — with  how  much  right,  it  is  difficult  to  say,  as  the  only  advan- 
tage in  evidence  this  town  has  over  the  rest  of  the  county,  is,  that  it 
has  given  its  name  to  the  breed. 

The  point  has  been  mooted  in  this  country,  that  all  Dorkings  of  pure 
blood,  are  white.  I  am  able  to  find  no  authority  for  this  opinion,  and 
am  inclined  to  think,  that  it  is  an  assertion  of  those  who  have  white 
fowls  only.  Of  all  the  Dorkings  [so  called]  that  I  have  seen,  the 
brown  and  speckled  are  vastly  superior  to  any  white  breed. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Northern  Farmer,  (Jan.  1st,  1852,)  eays: 
"The  fawn-colored  Dorking  is  doubtless  a  cross  between  the  white 
Dorking  and  the  Malay.  I  have  raised  the  speckled  and  fawn-colored 
Dorkings  this  season,  from  the  above  crosses.  The  speckled  Dorking 
is  also  a  cross  between  the  golden  Poland  and  the  white  Dorking. 
My  chickens  have  the  fifth  toe,  and  other  usual  marks  of  the  Dorking 
fowl."  "Why  could  he  not,  with  equal  propriety,  call  his  chickens  five- 
toed  Malays  ? 

"  Fawn-colored  Dorkings "  do  you  call  them !  !  Would  a  breeder 
be  justified  in  selling  such  mongrels  for  "  fawn-colored  Dorkings  ? " 
I  think  not  I  quote  from  eminent  English  authority,  the  following : 

"  A  man  may  take  one  cross  without  much  permanent  mischief;  but 
if  he  attempts  to  produce  a  cross  breed,  it  usually  happens  that  the 
progeny  possess  the  faults  of  both  parents,  instead  of  their  merits. 
Besides  this,  he  cannot  look  forward  with  anything  like  certainty  to 
what  any  young  may  be." 

One  of  the  most  beautiful  birds  I  have  ever  seen,  was  a  half-bred 
Dorking,  with  his  ten  toes  on  his  two  feet,  but  would  any  breeder 
purchase  or  sell  such  as  a  pure  blood  f  If  such  crosses  are  "  fawn- 
colored  Dorkings"  no  wonder  you  say,  " that  not  half  the  fowls  that 
go  by  that  name  are  worthy  of  that  name."  If  the  true  variety  is 
valuable,  let  it  be  preserved  with  its  merits  pure,  and  not  kill  the  breed 
by  breeding  a  fifth  toe  upon  a  dunghill,  and  dubbing  them  Dorkings ! 


22  SPECKLED    DORKINGS. 

Quoting  from  Mr.  L.  F.  Allen,  you  give  us  "  the  whole  story  in  a 
nut-shell."  "  The  Dorking  fowls  are  no  better  than  the  well  selected 
common  fowls  of  our  own  country,  in  any  respect,  except  their  fine, 
full,  compact,  broad  bodies,  as  an  article  of  food — for  that  they  exceed 
any  other  fowls  I  ever  saw ;  they  are  tender,  do  not  lay  so  well,  and 
are  less  prolific  than  the  others."  You  say,  "  the  authority,  the  best 
in  .the  country."  He  gives  the  bird  the  credit  of  exceeding  all  others 
for  the  table — that,  surely,  is  one  great  point.  Now  let  us  see  what 
this  same  authority  [Mr.  L.  F.  Allen]  says  in  the  American  Agricul- 
txirist,  some  time  after  his  importation  in  1841:  "They  are  most 
excellent  layers,  good  and  steady  setters,  and  kind,  careful  nurses." 
"  The  young  have  proved  very  hardy  and  easy  to  rear.  The  males, 
of  which  I  imported  two,  are  large,  strong  birds,  and  the  hens  are  all 
I  could  desire  of  them.  Their  eggs  are  of  a  large  size,  clear,  white 
and  excellent  in  quality.  Although  in  the  depth  of  winter,  with  over 
a  foot  of  snow  on  the  ground,  the  hens  lay  daily,  running  out  in  the 
severest  cold." 

Now,  Mr.  Editor,  you  would  hardly  think  that  the  above  quotations 
were  from  the  same  pen,  describing  the  same  bird.  Ten  years'  breed- 
ing should  have  improved,  not  degenerated  the  stock,  particularly  in 
the  hands  of  an  eminent  breeder.  I  am  happy  to  say,  that  Dorkings, 
as  described,  with  all  the  good  qualities  that  can  be  combined  in  one 
bird,  viz :  beauty,  strength,  fine  flesh,  good  layers,  and  hardy,  can  be 
found  in  this  country.  I  have  no  doubt  but  that  Mr.  Allen  gives  a 
full  description  of  the  Dorkings  as  they  appeared  to  him  at  the  differ- 
ent times  he  was  writing.  But  how  great  a  change  has  ten  years 
made  in  the  bird  itself  1  The  Dorkings  imported  by  him,  and  their 
immediate  descendants,  instead  of  being  about  as  perfect  and  desira- 
ble a  breed  of  fowls  as  a  man  could  have  in  his  yard,  Mr.  Allen  now 
describes  as  a  breed  of  one  virtue  only,  and  coupled  with  so  many 
serious  faults,  that,  if  true,  no  person  breeding  for  profit  or  pleasure, 
would  desire  them. 

So  far  from  being  tender,  I  have,  the  past  winter,  with  the  mercury 
standing  at  one  time  at  36°  below  zero,  watched  three  or  four 
yards  containing  pure  Dorking  fowls,  with  no  protection  but  a  half 
open  shed,  that  have  been  as  well,  and  began  laying  as  early,  as  the 
most  hardy  breeds.  Last  winter,  I  saw  a  coop  of  brown  Dorking 
fowls  on  their  way,  and  addressed  to  Mr.  V.  Cornish  of  Hartford, 
Conn.,  and  I  thought  they  looked  rather  better  than  anything  I  ever 
saw  at  the  State  Fairs,  or  at  the  shows  of  poultry  in  Boston.  Per- 
haps Mr.  Cornish  might  be  willing  to  give  your  readers  the  history  of 
his  Dorkings,  and  some  of  his  ideas  as  to  their  qualities. — [Communi- 
cations are  solicited  for  the  Northern  Farmer. — ED.] 

The  fact  is,  Mr.  Editor,  the  pure  Dorkings,  when  attention  is  paid 
to  their  breeding  by  the  introduction  of  a  fresh  strain  of  blood  often 
enough,  are  all  that  Mr.  Allen  described  in  1841,  and  their  merits 
have  only  to  be  known  to  make  the  public  as  much  their  friend  as 
your  correspondent. 

COCKEREL. 

It  is  a  fact,  that  Mr.  Allen  did,  in  1841,  write  in  the  Ameri- 
can Agriculturist,  what  he  virtually  contradicts  in  1851 


SPECKLED    DORKINGS.  23 

This  he  must  reconcile,  but  I  suppose  he  wrote  in  1841  rather 
prematurely,  expecting  that  his  fowls  would  come  up  to  his 
description,  in  which  he  was  disappointed. 

In  order  to  furnish  as  ample  proofs  of  the  character  of  the 
Dorking  fowls  as  my  limits  will  allow,  I  quote  from  Mowbray, 
a  foreign  writer,  as  follows : 

"The  Dorkings  rank  in  the  third  degree  in  the  list  of  the  largest 
of  domesticated  fowls.  They  are  well  shaped,  having  a  long,  capa- 
cious body,  and  shortish  legs,  and  should  have  five  claws  on  each  foot. 
The  absence  of  a  fifth  claw  is,  however,  not  considered  a  proof  of  spu- 
rious breeding.  They  make  an  excellent  stock  for  the  farm  or  market. 
They  fat  well,  lay  well,  and  rear  well ;  are  handsome  alive,  and  show 
delicately  white  when  prepared  for  cooking.  General  opinion  has 
accorded  to  this  breed  the  highest  character  for  laying,  and  also  for 
arriving  at  early  maturity.  When  full  grown,  they  weigh  from  five 
to  eight  pounds,  and  possess  finer  proportions  than  any  other  breed. 
Capons  sometimes  reach  ten  to  twelve  pounds'  weight.  They  are  hardy. 
Their  eggs  are  of  a  large  size,  clear,  white,  and  of  excellent  quality. 

The  cocks  are  magnificent ;  variegated  in  color,  with  a  surpassing 
brilliancy  of  plumage,  rarely  equalled  by  other  kinds.  The  hens  are 
pheasant-shaped,  with  a  clear  and  beautiful  head  and  throat,  and  a 
deep,  heavy  crop.  The  young  are  easily  reared." 

The  Eev.  Mr.  Dixon,  the  author  of  a  Treatise  on  Poultry, 
published  in  England,  says  : — 

"  There  can  be  no  doubt  that  the  production  of  two  hind  toes,  in- 
stead of  one,  is  entirely  accidental,  like  that  of  two  thumbs  on  one 
hand,  sometimes  observed  to  run  in  particular  families ;  but  this  is 
certainly  not  peculiar  to  the  fowls  bred  about  Dorking  in  Surrey,  for 
five-toed  fowls  are  mentioned  by  Aristotle  in  Greece,  by  Columella 
and  Pliny  in  Rome,  and  by  Aldrovand  in  Italy." 

"  Their  flesh  is  extremely  white,  succulent,  and  delicate,  and  they 
have  the  advantage  of  feeding  rapidly,  and  growing  to  a  very  large 
size,  when  properly  managed.  Capons  and  pulardes,  though  by  no 
means  so  common  in  England  as  in  France,  are  sometimes  made  of 
these  fowls;  which,  when  castrated,  grow  to  an  enormous  size,  a  well- 
fed  capon  having  been  known  to  weigh  fifteen  pounds." 

"For  those  who  wish  to  stock  their  potiltry-yards  with  fowls  of  the 
rr.ost  desirable  shape  and  size,  clothed  in  rich  and  variegated  plumage 
and  not  expecting  perfection,  the  speckled  Dorkings  are  the  breed  to 
be  at  once  selected.  The  hens  in  addition  to  their  gay  colors  have  a 
vertically  flat  comb  which,  when  they  are  in  high  health,  adds  much 
to  their  brilliant  appearance,  particularly  if  seen  in  bright  sunshine. 
The  cocks  are  magnificent.  The  most  gorgeous  hues  are  frequently 
lavished  upon  them,  which  their  great  size  and  peculiarly  square-built 
form,  display  to  the  greatest  advantage.  The  breeder  and  the  farmer's 
wife  behold  with  delight  their  short  legs,  their  broad  breast,  the  small 
proportion  of  offal,  and  large  quantity  of  good,  profitable  flesh. 

The  colored  Dorkings  are  worth  from  $3  to  $5  a  pair,  and 
the  eggs  sell  at  $1  50  to  $2  per  dozen. 


24 


THE    SURREY    FOWL. 


THE      SURREY      FOWL. 

The  Surrey  fowl  is  an  improved  variety  of  the  Dorking,  Imt 
lucking  the  fifth  toe.  They  are  bred  extensively  in  England, 
but  not  to  much  extent  in  this  country. 

The  above  cut  is  from  Nolan's  work  on  Domestic  Poultry, 
published  in  Dublin,  but  it  was  furnished  for  this  Treatise  by 
Jno.  Giles,  Esq.,  Providence,  R.  I.,  as  a  representation  of  his 
Surrey  fowls.  In  that  work  this  cut  represents  the  speckled 
Dorking  with  the  fifth  toe,  but  in  applying  it  to  the  Surrey 
fowl,  as  bred  by  Mr.  Giles,  the  fifth  toe  is  missing.  This 
explanation  is  given  to  disarm  critics,  who  may  cavil  at  the 
fact,  that  Mr.  Giles  has  selected  Mr.  Nolan's  cut  to  represent 
his  Surrey  fowls.  I  presume  that  it  is  as  true  a  representation 
of  Mr.  Giles'  Surrey  cock  as  if  he  were  to  have  a  portrait  drawn 
from  life,  because  no  portrait,  except  it  be  from  a  daguerre- 
otype, is  perfect  in  all  respects.  The  following  is  Mr.  Giles' 
description : 


THE    SURREY   FOWL,  25 

"The  Surrey  fowl  takes  its  name  from  the  county  in  England 
(Surrey),  where  they  are  raised  in  great  abundance.  They  are 
considered  the  best  fowl  in  England  for  profit,  being  broad  and 
full  in  the  breast,  wide  on  the  back,  plump  in  the  body,  short  in  the 
legs,  and  of  a  large  size.  A  full  grown  cock  will  weigh  from  nine  to 
twelve  pounds.  One  in  my  possession  will  weigh,  in  good  condition, 
twelve  pounds.  The  hens  weigh  from  seven  to  nine  pounds.  They 
lay  eggs  in  great  abundance,  are  excellent  sitters  and  careful  mothers.  { 
The  flesh  of  the  fowl  is  white,  juicy,  and  not  surpassed  for  the  table 
by  any  other  fowl.  The  pure  Surrey  fowls  have  white  legs,  the  plum- 
age is  grey  or  speckled,  the  comb  and  wattles  almost  as  large  as  those 
of  the  black  Spanish  fowl,  and  of  a  beautiful  scarlet,  with  a  small 
white  patch  on  the  cheek.  I  confidently  recommend  this  fowL 

"  Yours  respectfully, 

JOHN  GILES." 

Mr.  Giles  is  one  of  the  most  experienced  fowl  fanciers  in 
this  country.  He  has  kept  fowls  extensively  for  thirty-five 
years,  and  has  bred,  as  he  writes  me,  all  known  varieties  of 
gallinaceous  and  aquatic  fowls,  wholly  for  pleasure  and  diver- 
sion, not  for  profit.  The  Surrey  fowl  as  bred  by  him  can  be 
obtained  nowhere  else  in  this  country  to  my  knowledge,  and  as 
Mr.  Giles  does  not  breed  fowls  to  sell,  I  presume  the  above 
fowl  will  not  soon  become  extensively  raised,  unless  we  import 
them  from  England. 
2 


26 


THE    BRAHMA    POOTRA    FOWL. 


THE     BRAHMA     POOTRA      COCK. 

I  now  introduce  the  large  Asiatic  breeds,  and  commence 
with  Brahma  Pootras,  because  this  breed  is  acknowledged  to 
be  at  the  head  of  the  list,  in  regard  to  size,  weighing  at  ma- 
turity from  twenty-two  to  twenty-six  pounds  a  pair. 

The  origin  and  description  of  these  fowls  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Ben- 
nett of  Fort  des  Moines,  Iowa,  author  of  the  "  Poultry  Book," 
was  furnished  for  the  Northern  Farmer  and  this  work,  and 
was  inserted  in  the  Farmer,  as  follows : 


THE    BRAHMA    POOTRA    FOWL. 


2-7 


THE      BRAHMA     POOTRA     HEN. 

These  fowls,  as  all  others  should,  take  their  name  from  the  country 
of  their  nativity.  Geographers  differ  as  to  the  orthography  of  the 
name,  some  spelling  it  Burrampooter ;  others,  Brahmaputra ;  and  others, 
Brahma  Pootra.  This  last  is  the  spelling  adopted  by  the  Hon.  Georg* 
Thompson,  (member  of  the  British  Parliament,)  a  noted  traveler  and 
historian,  and  is  the  correct  one  as  sustained  by  both  "Webster  and 
Worcester,  and  the  one  we  shall  adopt.  In  relation  to  the  name  of 
these  fowls,  Virgil  Cornish,  Esq.,  of  Connecticut,  in  a  letter  to  the 
author,  March  2d,  1852,  observes:  "No  doubt  you  are  acquainted 
with  the  relative  position  of  the  State  in  India,  called  Chittagong, 
and  the  river  called  Brahmaputra.  Chittagong  is  a  small  State  upon 
the  eastern  borders,  and  bounding  west  upon  the  bay  of  Bengal.  The 
river  Bramahputra  discharges  its  waters  into  that  bay,  forty  or  fifty 
miles  from  the  western  boundary  of  Chittagong.  If  the  large,  light- 
colored  fowls  came  from  that  region — the  Bramahputra — of  which  I 
think  there  is  no  doubt,  for  we  have  seen  nothing  which  in  the  least 
resembles  them  from  any  other  country,  still  I  am  unable  to  say  by 
which  name  they  should  be  called,  with  certainty.  Chittagong,  if  I 
understand  it,  is  mountainous,  little  inhabited;  while  the  country 


28  THE    BRAHMA    POOTRA    FOWL. 

through  which  the  Brahmaputra  river  runs  is  a  flat  country,  exceed- 
ingly rich,  though  perhaps  a  damp  soil.  It  is  much  checkered  with 
rivers.  The  richer  the  country,  the  larger  the  productions,  is  our 
rule  to  go  by."  In  these  views,  I  have  no  doubt,  Mr.  Cornish  is  per- 
fectly correct.  Between  the  large,  light-colored  fowls  from  the  Brah- 
ma Pootra,  and  the  large  grey  fowls  from  Chittagong,  there  is  a 
marked  difference,  and  the  person  who  can  not  see  it,  can  see  no 
difference  between  a  zephyr  and  a  tornado.  This  difference  we  will 
point  out  distinctly  in  its  appropriate  place. 

Mr.  Cornish,  in  the  same  letter  alluded  to  above,  in  speaking  of 
the  importation  of  the  Brahma  Pootra  fowls,  remarks :  "  In  regard  to 
the  history  of  these  fowls,  very  little  is  known.  A  mechanic,  by  the 
name  of  Chamberlain,  in  this  city,  first  brought  them  here.  Mr. 
Chamberlain  was  acquainted  with  a  sailor  -who  informed  him  that 
there  were  three  pairs  of  large  imported  fowls  in  New  York,  and  he 
dwelt  so  much  upon  the  enormous  size  of  the  fowls,  that  Mr.  Chamber- 
lain furnished  him  money,  with  directions  to  go  to  New  York  and 
purchase  a  pair  of  them  for  him,  which  he  did  at  great  expense.  Tho 
sailor  reported  that  he  found  one  pair  of  light  grey  ones,  which  he 
purchased.  The  second  pair  was  dark-colored,  and  the  third  pair 
red.  The  man  in  New  York,  whose  name  I  have  not  got,  gave  no 
account  of  their  origin,  except  that  they  were  brought  there  by  some 
sailors  in  the  India  ships.  The  parties  through  whose  hands  the  fowls 
came,  as  far  back  as  I  have  been  able  to  trace  them,  are  all  obscure 
men.  I  obtained  my  stock  from  the  original  pair  brought  here  by  Mr. 
Chamberlain,  and  have  never  crossed  them  in  the  least.  Mr.  Hatch's 
first  stock,  I  think,  were  from  that  pair.  These  fowls  were  named 
Chittagong,  by  Mr.  Chamberlain,  on  account  of  their  resemblance,  in 
some  degree,  to  the  fowls  then  in  the  country,  called  by  that  name ; 
but  it  is  certain  they  never  bred  until  they  reached  this  town."  The 
description  of  these  fowls  exactly  corresponds  with  that  given  by 
travelers  and  sea  captains,  with  whom  I  have  conversed,  of  the  large, 
light-colored  fowls  found  in  the  valley  of  the  Brahma  Pootra,  and 
materially  differing  from  the  large,  grey  fowls  found  in  the  state  of 
Chittagong. 

The  Rev.  R.  W.  Fuller,  of  Massachusetts,  in  a  letter  to  "W.  N".  An- 
drews, Esq.,  of  New  Hampshire,  of  Feb.  9th,  1852,  says:  "I  have  a 
rir  of  Brahma  Pootra  fowls,  of  the  same  breed  as  those  sold  by  Dr. 
C.  Bennett,  for  $24  a  pair,  and  I  consider  them  decidedly  the  most 
beautiful  and  splendid  fowl  ever  imported  into  this  country.  Their 
color  is  white,  inclining  on  the  back  to  a  rich  cream-color,  the  hackles 
on  the  neck  slightly  streaked  \vith  black.  The  legs  are  yellow, 
heavily  feathered  with  white,  and  shorter  than  the  Chittagong  or  the 
Shanghae,  giving  the  fowls  a  more  beautiful  proportion.  They  are 
very  gentle  and  peaceable  in  their  disposition,  and  have  a  stately  and 
graceful  gait.  Take  them  altogether  they  are  just  the  fowls  for  an 
amateur  to  fall  in  love  with,  and  such  as  an  owner,  possessed  of  one 
spark  of  vanity,  would  desire  to  keep  in  his  front  yard,  that  all 
passers-by  might  behold  and  admire  them." 

Dr.  Eben  Wight,  of  Boston,  in  a  letter  to  the  author,  of  March  15th, 
1852,  in  speaking  of  tjie  Brahma  Pootra  fowls,  remarks:  "A  man  in 


THE  BRAHMA  POOTRA  FOWL.  29 

Connecticut,  says  he  has  a  pair,  same  stock  as  Hatch's,  which  he  has 
"weighed: — cock,  thirteen  pounds;  hen,  nine  pounds  six  ounces;  but 
he  refuses  to  sell  them  That  is  a  fine  breed  of  fowls  and  must  beat 
all  others."  _  Dr.  Wight  is  one  of  the  best  amateur  breeders  and 
most  extensive  importers  in  this  country,  and  I  regard  his  opinion 
as  paramount. 

Mr.  Samuel  0.  Hatch,  of  Connecticut,  in  a  letter  to  the  author,  of 
Feb.  13th,  1852,  writes:  "People  here  are  better  •acquainted  with 
these  Brahma  Pootra  fowls,  than  your  eastern  fowl  breeders.  I  can't 
sell  the  Forbes  or  Marsh  stock  of  Shanghaes  for  over  $3  a  pair,  best 
samples;  whereas  the  Brahma  Pootras  sell  readily  for  from  $10  to  $40 
a  pair,  according  to  their  age,  and  I  have  sold  one  pair  at  $50.  The 
usual  price  is  from  $12  to  $35  a  pair.  As  layers  they  are  unsurpassed 
by  any  breed." 

The  committee  of  judges  on  the  different  classes  of  fowls  exhibited 
at  the  late  Annual  Exhibition  of  the  "New  England  Society  for  the 
Improvement  of  Domestic  Poultry,"  held  in  the  hall  over  the  Fitch- 
burg  Railroad  Depot,  on  the  llth,  12th,  13th  and  14th  days  of  Novem- 
ber, 1851,  in  speaking  of  the  Brahma  Pootra  fowls,  say:  "Some 
mammoth  items  of  this  variety  were  shown  by  Dr.  Bennett,  S.  O. 
Hatch,  and  J.  Parkinson,  each  possessing  great  merit.  Mr.  Hatch's 
lot  was  entered  under  the  head  of  grey  Chittagongs,  but  were  really 
pure  Brahma  Pootras,  and  decidedly  better  fowls  than  any  Chittagongs 
in.  America.  They  are  better  layers,  lighter  in  color,  have  shorter 
legs,  more  compact  forms,  larger  ear-lobes,  and  smaller  combs  and 
wrattles;  and,  in  every  respect,  are  vastly  superior  to  the  Chittagongs. 
As  the  judges  desire  that  every  variety  of  fowl  should  be  called'by  its 
right  name,  they  cannot  sanction  the.  application  of  the  title  Chitta- 
gong,  to  this  excellent  stock,  when,  in  reality,  they  are  perfect  Brah- 
ma Pootras.  B.  F.  Beal,  R.  "W.  Fuller,  and  J.  H.  Penniman,  showed 
some  very  handsome  fowls  of  the  same  variety.  Dr.  Bennett  pur- 
chased Mr.  Hatch's  lot  at  a  very  high  price." 

I  purchased  very  extensively  of  Messrs.  Cornish  and  Hatch,  and 
find  the  stock  identical.  Most  magnificent  samples  have  been  for- 
warded to  me  by  both  of  those  gentlemen. 

In  relation  to  the  last  nine  pair  of  Brahma  Pootra  fowls,  purchased  by 
Col.  Mark  Noble,  of  New  Hampshire,  and  myself,  of  Mr.  Cornish,  the 
last  named  gentlemen,  in  a  letter  of  February  25th,  1852,  says:  "I 
have  now  nine  pairs  of  Brahma  Pootra  fowls.  The  weight  I  give  in 
a  schedule  below.  Nos.  1,  2,  3,  and  5,  were  hatched  the  first  of 
July  last,  and  Nos.  4,  6,  7,  8,  and  9,  on  the  first  of  September — that 
is  the  cocks ;  the  pullets,  some  of  them,  a  little  older — late  July 
chickens.  They  are  all  good  fowls.  Nos.  1,  2,  and  3,  I  think  are  equal  to 
my  old  pair,  which  were  so  much  admired.  Their  weight  is  equal  to 
that  of  the  old  pair  at  the  same  age.  I  shall  be  disappointed  if  the 
cocks  do  not  come  up  fully  to  thirteen  pounds  each,  when  fully  grown, 
and  the  pullets  in  proportion.  I  have  no  doubt  they  will  go  above 
that  figure.  They  are  now  decidedly  the  three  best  pairs  of  fowls 
that  can  be  produced  in  this  section  of  the  country.  The  others 
are  equally  good  of  their  age. 


30 

THE    BRAHMA    ] 

No.  1  cock,  10  pounds, 
"    2     "      10 

"    3     "      10 

"        4  ounces. 

4 

8 

8 

5 

9 

5 

6 

8 

6 

7 

7 

12 

8 

6 

4 

9 

6 

6 

pullet,  7  pounds,  8  ounces. 


4 
10 
9 
6 
8 

4 
5 


The  above  weights  are  accurate,  but  I  -would  remark  that  the  fowls 
are  all  rather  lean  in  flesh.  They  are  all  labeled,  and  if  they  do  not 
lose  their  cards  from  their  necks,  you  can  readily  select  them.  You 
have  long  been  well  acquainted  with  fowls  and  know  how  difficult  it 
is  to  describe  their  precise  color,"  <fec. 

Though  these  are  "  truly  magnificent "  fowls,  as  Mr.  Cornish  says, 
still,  I  have  made  purchases  of  Mr.  Hatch,  of  this  breed,  fully 
equal  both  in  weight  and  beauty,  if  not  even  superior.  My  breeders,  of 
Brahma  Pootra  stock,  could  not  be  purchased  at  a  $100  per  pair,  they 
are,  certainly,  the  most  magnificent  fowls  I  ever  saw  of  any  breed. 

The  Brahma  Pootra  fowls  may  be  thus  described  :  The  cock  is 
mostly  white,  with  neck  hackles  penciled  with  black,  and  rump 
hackles  of  a  gold  or  yellow  color.  The  tail  is  black,  with  glossy,  green 
plume  feathers.  The  wings  and  a  portion  of  the  neck  hackles  slightly 
penciled  with  black. 

The  pullets  are  white,  with  black  tails,  the  wings  and  neck  slightly 
penciled  with  black.  The  comb  is  small  and  serrated,  though  fre- 
quently they  have  the  perfect  pea-comb  of  the  Sumatra  Pheasant 
Game  fowl,  which  is  always  a  rare  indication  of  fineness  of  flesh. 
The  wattles  are  small,  but  the  ear-lobes  are  extremely  large  and  pen- 
dulous. 

The  legs  are  yellow,  and  usually  very  heavily  feathered,  though  I 
have  seen  some  excellent  specimens  with  smooth  legs. 

Their  weight  at  maturity  is  from  twenty-two  to  twenty-five  pounds 
per  pair,  and  they  are  quite  symmetrical  in  their  conformation. 

As  layers  they  are  unsurpassed  by  any  breed.  I  have  tried  them 
side  by  side  with  the  Imperial  Chinese,  (Marsh  stock,)  and  the  Shan- 
ghaes, (Forbes'  stock,)  and  find  the  three  breeds  about  equally  pro- 
lific. Dr.  Elihu  Halladay,  of  Ohio,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer,  of 
March  12th,  1852,  says:  "The  Brahma  Pootras,  Imperial  Chinese, 
and  Shanghaes,  have  layed  most  of  the  time  this  winter.  They  have 
only  stopped  occasionally  for  a  few  days,  and  some  of  them  hardly 
stopped  for  the  coldest  weather.  I  can  hardly  tell  which  of  these 
breeds  are  the  best  layers." 

The  Brahma  Pootras,  lay  larger  eggs  than  any  other  Asiatic  fowls, 
not  excepting  the  great  Hoang  Ho  fowls,  recently  imported  from 
Keangsoo,  Shantung  and  Hoan,  in  the  valley  of  the  Hoang  Ho  river. 
On  an  average  their  eggs  are  about  fifty  per  cent,  larger  than  those 
of  the  Shanghaes,  or  Imperial  Chinese — Forbes  and  Marsh  stocks. 

The  Brahma  Pootra  fowls  differ  from  the  grey  Chittagongs  in  the 
following  respects :  They  are  lighter  color ;  shorter  legged ;  more 
compact  in  form ;  have  larger  ear-lobes,  and  smaller  combs  and  wat- 


THE  BRAHMA  POOTRA  FOWL.  31 

ties ;  deeper  breasted,  but  shorter  quartered ;  are  more  active ;  better 
layers ;  and  are  more  uniform  in  color  and  size.  No  one,  but  a  stupid, 
who  has  ever  seen  the  Chittagong  and  Brahma  Pootra  fowls,  side  by 
side,  would  ever  suspect  their  being  the  same  breed,  or  would  so  pro- 
nounce them,  unless  influenced  by  mercenary,  corrupt,  and  unworthy 
conniderations  so  to  do.  The  Chittagong  fowl  is  frequently  crested, 
the  Brahma  Pootra  never. 

It  is  true  that  a  cross-breed  of  fowls  derived  from  the  great  Ostrich 
and  grey  Chittagong  fowls,  and  to  which  I  gave  the  name  of  Brahma 
Pootra  from  their  resemblance  to  that  breed,  arc  crested,  occasionally, 
and  frequently  of  a  buff  color ;  but  no  one  ever  pretended  that  these 
were  not  a  cross,  or  that  they  were  the  pure  Brahma  Pootras,  though  a 
very,  excellent  variety  of  fowls.  Of  this  cross-breed,  the  committee 
of  the  Poultry  and  Bird  Exhibition,  at  the  Fitchburg  Depot,  on  the 
2d,  3rd,  and  4th  of  October,  1850,  in  their  "Report,"  say,  page  2, 
"  The  Burrampooters  shown  by  Dr.  Bennett,  were  among  the  largest 
and  most  showy  domestic  birds  exhibited.  They  resemble  the  Chit- 
tagongs  strongly ;  are  grey  in  plumage,  and  come  from  stock  imported 
directly  from  the  valley  of  the  Burrampooter,  (or  Brahmapootra,) 
India.  It  is  stated  that  this  species  attain  to  the  enormous  weight  of 
twenty-three  to  twenty-five  pounds  per  pair,  at  maturity.  They 
clearly  originate  in  a  cross  of  the  Chittagong,  and  '  Ostrich '  fowl  of 
the  East.  The  crower  and  two  pullets,  sent  in  by  Dr.  Bennett,  were 
magnificent  samples." 

The  Boston  Traveler  in  speaking  of  these  fowls,  observes : 

"These  promise  to  be  decidedly  the  largest  birds  in  America. 
Beautiful  in  their  appearance,  and  the  prevailing  color  of  their  plu- 
mage is  white  or  light  fawn.  They  excel  the  Chittagongs  or  the  im- 
ported Chinese  in  quality,  averaging  at  maturity  not  less  than  twenty- 
Jive  pounds  a  pair ;  good  layers,  and  the  flesh  is  of  a  most  superior 
quality." 

The  pure  Brahma  Pootras  are  not  the  cross-breed  here  alluded  to, 
but  a  perfect  breed— &s  perfect  as  the  black  Spanish,  the  Guelderland, 
or  the  white  Dorking.  Of  the  pure  Brahma  Pootra  fowls,  in  addition 
to  the  persons  above  named,  B.  Bignon,  Esq.,  and  Charles  Collins, 
Esq.,  of  Georgia ;  Rev.  N.  S.  Smith,  of  New  York ;  Dr.  A.  H.  Gross, 
of  Pennsylvania ;  Samuel  "Wood,  Esq.,  of  Maine  ;  and  R.  R.  Winslow, 
of  Ohio,  have  excellent  samples. 

The  eggs  of  the  Brahma  Pootra  sell  readily  at  $6  per  dozen ;  and 
some  have  sold  at  $1  each,  or  $12  per  dozen. 

JOHN  C.  BENNETT. 

Fort  Des  Moines,  Polk  Co.,  Iowa. 

Dr.  Bennett  is  one  of  the  most  extensive  fowl  fanciers  in  the 
United  States.  He  was  the  originator  of  the  "New  England 
Poultry  Society," — was  Professor  of  Midwifery,  &c.,  in  the 
University  of  Lake  Erie,  and  subsequently  "Major  General  of 
Division,  and  Quarter  Master  General  of  the  State  of ^  Illinois," 
and  still  later  Professor  of  Surgery,  <fec.,  in  the  Third  street 
Medical  College  of  Cincinnati.  His  opinion  is  entitled  to  respect. 


32  THE    BRAHMA   POOTBA    FOWL. 

I  received  in  the  spring  of  1852  a  pair  of  Brahma  Pootras 
from  Dr.  Bennett,  and  I  have  had  abundant  evidence  of 
their  character  to  warrant  me  in  saying  that  this  breed  of  fowls 
is  magnificent,  large,  hardy,  handsome  and  prolific,  and  destined 
to  be  of  great  popularity.  They  possess  all  the  valuable  traits 
of  the  best  Shanghaes,  short-legged,  compact,  great  layers,  &c., 
besides  being  larger  and  far  more  attractive  to  the  eye.  They 
lay  daily,  while  they  do  lay,  as  a  general  rule,  and  stop  but  a 
few  days  between  broods,  when  not  allowed  to  sit.  Their  eggs 
are  very  large,  larger  than  those  of  any  other  fowl  in  this 
country.  They  are  the  most  quiet,  docile  fowl  known,  never 
pecking  at  young  chickens,  and  will  seldom  leave  the  yard 
where  bred,  when  an  opportunity  is  given  them,  unless  forced 
to  do  so.  I  have  a  peculiar  instance  of  this  fact.  Having 
reared  several  broods  in  a  yard  of  good  limits,  I  desired  to  have 
them  run  out  into  an  adjoining  field,  after  the  grass  had  been 
cut,  to  feed  on  the  bugs  and  grasshoppers,  and  having  opened 
a  passage  thereto,  I  presumed  they  would  soon  enter  the  field ; 
but  I  was  disappointed ;  not  one  passed  out.  I  then  called  them 
out  into  the  field  and  fed  them  there  several  times,  but  as  soon 
as  they  had  gathered  their  corn  they  returned  to  their  own 
yard,  and  would  not  leave  it,  unless  called  out.  Another  fea- 
ture is,  they  can  be  confined  by  a  fence  three  feet  high,  and 
our  gardens  will  never  suffer  from  their  depredations,  even  if 
the  gates  were  left  wide  open.  All  the  Asiatic  tribes  are  easily 
confined,  but  this  breed  is  the  least  inclined  to  ramble  of  them 
all,  as  far  as  my  knowledge  extends.  I  now  (October,  1852), 
have  a  dozen  fine  pullets  of  this  breed,  that  can  not  be  pur- 
chased. My  object  is  to  breed  from  them  next  season — not  to 
speculate,  but  to  furnish  the  public  who  may  desire  eggs,  or 
fowls  of  this  breed,  at  as  low  rates  as  they  can  be  procured 
elsewhere,  and  be  enabled  to  ensure  to  purchasers  the  pure 
breed,  a  matter  of  the  utmost  importance,  and  yet  so  little  re- 
garded by  many  breeders,  who  care  for  nothing  but  to  get  the 
money  into  their  pockets. 

Since  this  breed  of  fowls  has  become  popular,  and  much 
sought  for,  the  title  to  their  name  has  been  disputed  by  George 
P.  Burnham,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  dealer  in  Cochin  Chinas  and 
Shanghaes.  The  following  extracts  will  show  the  ground 
upon  which  Mr.  Burnham  stands,  and  also  the  position  of  Dr. 
Bennett,  the  gentleman  who  gave  them  the  appellation  of 
JBrahma  Pootras : 


THE    BRAHMA    POOXRA    FOWL,  83 

From  the  New  England  Cultivator  for  June,  1852  : 

"  Dr.  Bennett,  of  Great  Falls,  N.  H.,  publishes  a  long  article,  lately, 
in  the  Northern  Farmer,  on  the  origin  of  the  '  Brahma  Pootra '  fowls. 
'  "  Now  these  fowls  are  grey  Shangkaes  ;  that  is  to  say,  they  originated 
in  the  city  of  Shanghae,  China,  and  are  grey  in  plumage.  They  have 
single  comb — form  like  all  good  Chinese  birds  of  a  large  size,  and  are 
feathered  or  smooth-legged,  as  the  case  may  be.  Ihe  Chittagongs 
and  these  are  perfectly  identical ;  and  all  are  of  the  great  Chinese 
variety — the  gallus  gigantem  of  ornithologists. 

"  Call  these  particular  birds  by  whatever  cognomen  yon  please — '  a 
rose  by  any  other  name  will  smell  as  sweet ' — and  still  they  are  beau- 
tiful specimens  of  poultry.  But  why  not  designate  them  correctly, 
and  call  them  what  they 'really  are — 'grey  Shanghaes  ? ' 

"  We  suggest  this,  in  all  candor  to  Dr.  B.,  and  all  others  who  are 
making  these  mistakes.  As  for  our  friend  Dr.  Bennett,  personally,  we 
respect  him,  highly — and  are  free  to  admit  that  no  man  has  done 
more  for  the  benefit  of  the  New  England  Society  than  himself.  But 
the  best  of  us  are  liable  to  commit  errors ;  and  we  think  the  matter 
alluded  to  is  a  very  decided  mistake. 

"The  original  pair  took  the  premiums  at  two  successive  fairs  in  Bos- 
ton, and  were  called  the  '  Chittagongs''  at  that  time.  That  cock  and 
hen  now  weigh  about  twenty-one  pounds  the  pair. 

"  This  stock  has  been  largely  bred  the  past  year,  however,  and  there 
is  a  good  demand  for  the  better  specimens,  at  $15  to  $25  a  pair — say 
at  a  year  old. " 

From  the  Northern  Farmer  for  September,  1852  : 
George  P.  Burnham,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  has  recently  asserted 
in  the  New  England  Cultivator,  that  Brahma  Pootra  fowls  are 
grey  Shanghaes.  He  also  says  that  "the  Chittagongs  and 
grey  Shanghaes  are  perfectly  identical"  thus,  at  a  single  dash 
of  the  pen,  annihilating  the  Chittagong  variety  of  fowls  and 
merging  them  in  the  grey  Shanghaes  !  This  will  be  news  to 
the  poultry  breeders  of  the  United  States,  that  there  are  no  such 
fowls  as  Chittagongs!  Verily,  Mr.  Burnham  should  have 
informed  the  world  of  this  fact  before,  and  not  have  suffered 
them  to  appear  in  all  our  recent  works  on  poultry,  and  in  half 
the  papers  in  the  country  for  years  as  Chittagongs. 

Dr.  Bennett,  of  Great  Falls,  N.  H.,  is  the  gentleman  assailed, 
as  having  mis-named  these  fowls,  and  the  writer  of  their  his- 
tory in  our  May  number.  The  Doctor  desires  us  to  insert  the 
following  proofs  of  the  origin  and  correctness  of  tfre  name 
of  these  fowls  on  his  responsibility  : 

Mr.  Miner  :-r-In  the  New  England  Cultivator,  for  June,  Is  an  article 
on  "  Grey  Shanghae  Fowls,"  from  the  pen  of  George  P.  Burnham,  Esq., 
confounding  that  breed  with  the  Brahma  Pootras,  and  as  he  has  used 
my  name  most  liberally,  I  beg  leave  to  make  a  short  reply.  Mr. 


34  THE  BRAHMA  POOTRA  FOWL. 

Burnham  says :  "  Mr.  Burnhara  was  the  first  to  introduce  this  large 
breed  of  grey  fowls  into  Massachusetts  in  1849  and  1850.  [Mr.  B.  is 
incog,  editor,  and  writes  of  himself  as  of  another  person. — ED.  NORTH- 
ERN FARMER.]  They  were  called  Chittagongs  at  that  time."  Now, 
the  Chittagongs  to  which  Mr.  Burnham  refers,  are  grey  Chittagongs ; 
I  had  some  of  the  same  stock.  They  were  purchased  of  Dr.  Kerr  by 
Mr.  Burnham  and  myself  at  the  same  time.  Mr.  Burnham  admits 
that  these  fowls  are  Chittagongs,  and  so  do  I.  They  were,  and  now 
are,  of  a  grey  owl-color,  not  white,  with  black  tails  and  penciled  neck- 
hackles,  like  the  Brahma  Pootras.  [The  Brahma  Pootras  are  just  as 
here  described. — ED.]  Mr.  Burnham's  pair  of  Chittagongs,  which  he 
pretends  are  similar  to  Brahma  Pootras,  passed  into  the  hands  of  Mr. 
G.  W.  George,  of  Haverhill,  Mass.  On  the  28th  of  June,  Mr.  George 
visited  Great  Falls  to  see  my  Brahma  Pootras.  He  was  accompanied 
by  Mr.  TV.  P.  Neff,  of  Cincinnati,  Ohio.  I  requested  Mr.  George  to 
Btate  in  the  presence  of  Mr.  Neff,  whether  Mr.  Burnham's  Chittagongs, 
which  he  owned,  resembled  my  Brahma  Pootras.  He  replied,  "Not 
in  the  least.  The  Chittagongs  that  I  had  of  Mr.  Burnhara  are  owl- 
colored,  or  grey,  more  like  a  Dominique  fowl."  Now,  Mr.  Burnham's 
" grey  Chittagongs"  have  turned  out  to  be  "grey  Shanghaes,"  for  he 
gays  they  are  "  perfectly  identical  I  "  If  this  is  true,  there  is  no  such 
thing  as  Chittagong  fowls ! !  They  are  all  grey  Shanghaes  now ! 
That  Mr.  Burnham  has  some  grey  Shanghaes,  I  am  not  disposed  to 
contradict,  but  that  they  are  the  original  grey  Chittagongs,  I  deny. 
But  if  they  were  the  same,  that  circumstance  would  have  nothing  to 
do  with  their  being  Brahma  Pootras,  because  neither  of  these  breeds 
resemble  the  Brahma  Pootras  in  the  least.  That  Mr.  Burnham  had 
no  fowls  in  1849  and  1850,  resembling  the  Brahma  Pootras  in  the 
least,  /  know  to  a  certainty,  and  in  confirmation  of  this  statement  I 
append  a  letter  from  Virgil  Cornish,  Esq.,  of  Conn. 

Yours, 

J.  C.  BENNETT. 
• 

July  19th,  1852. 

DR.  J.  C.  BENNETT  : — Dear  Sir — A  few  weeks  ago  I  received  the 
Northern  Farmer,  and  noticed  your  article  on  the  Brahma  Pootra 
fowls,  with  quotations  from  my  letter  to  you,  which  are  all  correct.  I 
have  shown  the  article  to  Mr.  Chamberlain,  and  he  says  that  the  de- 
scription of  the  origin  of  these  fowls,  as  there  given  by  you,  is  per- 
fectly correct.  You  have  probably  noticed  the  article  in  the  New 
England  Cultivator  for  June,  under  the  head  of  "  Grey  Shanghaes," 
in  which  tlfe  author  claims  that  the  Brahma  Pootras  are  identical 
with  that  breed,  <fec.,  telling  us  that  Mr.  Burnham  knows  all  about 
them,  and  had  them  in  1849  and  1850,  <fcc.  Now  I  happened  to  meet 
Mr.  Burnham  at  the  Poultry  Fair  in  1850,  when  he  told  me,  after 
viewing  a  few  young  specimens  of  Brahma  Pootras  shown  at  that 
time,  that  he  had  never  seen  anything  like  them  before,  and  Mr.  Morse 
[Mr.  Morse  is  Secretary  of  the  New  England  Poultry  Society. — ED.] 
also  said  the  same,  and  denied  that  they  were  grey  Chittagongs  ;  and 
observed  that  he  had  never  before  seen  the  pure  Brahma  Pootras. 
Both  gentlemen  made  great  efforts  to  obtain  a  promise  of  some  of 


THE  BRAHMA  POOTRA  FOWL.  35 

the  fowls,  but  failed.  Now,  I  do  not  wish  to  say  that  the  assertion  in 
the  Cultivator,  that  Mr.  B.  had  the  Brahma  Footras  iu  1849,  is  false, 
but  it  looks  very  much  as  though  there  was,  at  least  a  great  mistake 
eomewhere. 

Yours  respectfully, 

VIRGIL  CORNISH. 

I  consider  Mr.  Cornish's  letter  quite  conclusive  as  to  the 
origin  and  true  name  of  these  fowls  ;  and  were  they  not  sought 
for  in  preference  to  Cochin  Chinas  and  Sanghaes,  it  is  probable 
that  no  one  would  ever  take  the  trouble  to  dispute  the  title  to 
their  name,  as  given  by  Dr.  Bennett,  one  of  the  original 
purchasers  of  this  breed  of  fowls. 

The  Brahma  Pootras  that  I  own — and  they  are  equal  to 
the  best  in  the  country — are  no  more  like  the  grey  Shanghaes 
or  Chittagongs,  than  an  owl  is  like  a  hawk.  They  are  nearly 
white,  except  a  few  hackles  upon  their  necks,  &c.,  as  Dr.  Ben- 
nett ha«  described.  They  generally  have  a  small  pea.-conib 
resembling  that  of  the  Sumatra  Pheasant  games,  but  which  is 
never  found  on  the  grey  Shanghaes,  nor  the  grey  Chittagongs, 
but  their  combs  are  always  single  and  serrated.  This  single 
fact  is  conclusive  evidence  that  the  Brahma  Pootras  are  not 
identical  with  grey  Shanghaes,  nor  Chittagongs.  The  Cape 
of  Good  Hope,  Domnique,  or  the  white  Shanghae  fowls,  can 
with  as  much  propriety  be  said  to  be  "  perfectly  identical "  with 
the  Brahma  Pootras,  different  as  those  fowls  are,  than  can  be 
said  of  grey  Shanghaes  or  Chittagongs. 

In  a  subsequent  allusion  to  these  fowls,  Mr.  Burnham  says  : 

"It  matters  very  little  what  name  they  go  by,  however;  they  are 
splendid  birds,  in  all  respects,  and  the  specimens  exhibited  at  the  late 
Fair  in  Boston  were  extraordinarily  fine  samples — old  and  young. 

"This  breed  may  be  feet  down  as  the  largest  domestic  fowl  we  now 
have  in  this  country,  without  exception,  unquestionably.  The  plum- 
age of  this  variety  is  very  beautiful — a  light  grey,  approaching  to 
speckled  or  streaked  white ;  the  form  is  that  of  the  best  modeled 
Shanghaes,  the  characteristics  are  the  same ;  the  weight,  considerably 
above  the  average :  and  the  general  appearance  very  prepossessing. 

At  the  Fair  of  1852,  these  birds  commanded  very  high  prices;  and 
all  the  good  samples  that  were  for  sale,  were  taken  up  at  an  early 
moment  after  the  opening  of  the  exhibition,  at  round  figures.  Fifty 
dollars  a  pair  was  paid  for  the  premium  fowls,  of  this  breed,  and  the 
younger  stock  was  sold  at  proportionate  rates.  They  are  really  an 
extraordinary  race,  and  cannot  but  become  popular,  wherever  they 
may  hereafter  become  known." 

At  the  poultry  show  in  Boston,  held  in  September,  1851, 


86  THE  BRAHMA  POOTRA  FOWL. 

under  the  auspices  of  the  New  England  Poultry  Society,  the 
dispute  in  regard  to  the  name  of  these  fowls  was  submitted  to 
the  judges  for  their  decision.  The  committee  consisted  of  Dr. 
Bennett,  and  Messrs.  Burnham,  Andrews,  Balch,  and  Fussel. 
The  following  is  their  decision  : 

"The  Committee  are  unanimously  of  the  opinion  that  those  marked 
*  Chittagongs,'  are  not  of  that  breed ;  it  is  clearly  a  misnomer — and 
the  only  question  is,  whether  they  are  ' grey  Shanghaes'  or  'Brahma 
Pootras ' — from  China  or  India ;  and  as  the  arguments  of  Mr.  Burn- 
ham  on  the  one  side,  and  Dr.  Bennett  on  the  other,  are  before  the 
public,  we  submit  the  question." 

By  this  decision  the  question  is  settled  that  this  breed  of 
fowls  is  not  identical  with  Chittagongs,  and  to  persist  in  calling 
them  grey  Shanghaes  seems  to  be  a  gross  misnomer,  because 
they  are  not  grey,  but  white,  or  nearly  so,  generally.  Occasion- 
ally we  see  one  with  the  usual  neck  hackles  extending  nearly 
over  the  entire  body,  giving  the  fowl  a  beautiful  appearance, 
yet  quite  distinct  in  color  from  all  other  fowls.  Marquis  F. 
Moore,  of  Massachusetts,  in  a  letter  to  me,  dated  September  3, 
1852,  says : — 

"The  Brahma  Pootra  fowl  are  very  dark  in  many  instances.  Yours 
may  be  almost  white,  but  that  is  no  sign  that  all  are  light-colored.  I 
prefer  no  fowl  above  this  breed,  and  I  now  have  a  pair  that  fifty  dol- 
lars will  not  buy." 

I  am  inclined  to  infer  that  Mr.  Moore's  stock  is  not  direct 
from  the  original  pair  from  which  Dr.  Bennett's  has  sprung, 
but  I  may  be  in  error.  I  have,  however,  heard  of  no  dark- 
colored  Brahma  Pootra  fowls  from  any  other  source.  Mr. 
Moore  also  says  that  they  do  not  always  have  a  pea-comb.  I 
admit  it,  but  Dr.  Bennett's  stock  generally  do. 

Without  desiring  to  extol  these  fowls  beyond  their  merits, 
I  annex  the  opinions  of  gentlemen  in  different  parts  of  the 
country,  to  be  taken  for  what  they  are  worth,  but  I  can  assure 
my  readers  that  what  they  say  was  not  prompted  from  interested 
motives;  because  their  opinions  were  given  in  private  letters, 
and  not  for  the  press : 

The  Brahma  pullet  I  have  is  drooping,  but  I  hope  with  care  to 
restore  her.  I  would  not  lose  her  for  any  amount.  This  breed  is  de- 
cidedly the  handsomest  and  finest  fowls  I  have  ever  seen. 

B.  BIGNOX, 

Georgia. 

Tour  article  on  the  Brahma  Pootra  fowls,  published  in  the  North 
ern  Farmer,  for  May,  corresponds  generally  with  my  own  experience 


THE    BRAHMA    POOTRA    FOWL.  37 

in  regard  to  them.  I  have  bred  four  varieties  of  the  Shanghae  fowl, 
— also  the  Cochin  China  and  black  Polanda,  but  I  give  the  Brahma 
Pootras  the  decided  preference  over  all  others.  They  grow  to  a  much 
larger  size  than  other  India  fowls,  and  are  better  proportioned,  and 
they  are  not  excelled  in  their  laying  qualities. 

W.  N".  ANDREWS, 

New  Hampshire. 

I  find  them  hardy  and  hearty,  requiring  but  little  attention  to 
raise  them.  They  are  as  easily  yarded  as  cows,  not  disposed  to  ram- 
ble abroad,  great  grass  eaters,  and  not  at  all  dainty. 

SAMUEL  WOOD, 

Maine. 

I  have  been  offered  for  my  old  pair  of  Brahma  Pootras  $50,  but 
I  refused  to  sell  them.  They  cannot  be  beat.  Every  one  that  sees 
them  wants  to  buy  them,  but  I  don't  want  to  sell  them. 

GEORGE  SMITH, 

Ehode  Island. 

My  Brahma  Pootra  hen  has  beat  everything  about  here  in  lay- 
ing. She  commenced  in  January,  when  seven  months  old,  and  with 
the  exception  of  one  period  of  ten  days,  she  has  laid  constantly  to 
this  time  (July.) 

L.  KENNEDY, 

Wisconsin. 

My  Brahma  Pootras  are  splendid,  and  cast  Burnham's  into  the 
shade.  The  fact  is,  they  do  not  resemble  his  at  all.  They  are  quite 
different  birds,  and  greatly  superior,  more  elegant  and  loftier.  He  is 
grossly  in  error  when  he  calls  them  grey  Shanghaes. 

A.  VERLOIN  DE  GRUY, 

Lousiana. 

I  give  no  residence  to  the  writers  of  the  foregoing  extracts, 
to  show  to  the  public  that  I  am  not  advertising  their  fowls, 
as  is  often  done  in  an  underhanded  manner,  for  which  a  con- 
sideration is  tendered.  If  it  be  possible  to  furnish  an  honest 
work,  without  favoring  friends,  or  fearing  foes,  I  desire  to  do  it. 

Mr.  De  Gruy,  it  appears,  was  a  purchaser  of  stock  from  Mr. 
Burnham,  which  that  gentleman  calls  "Brahma  Pootras,"  alias 
grey  Shanghaes,  but  the  pair  he  extols  so  highly  were  pur- 
chased in  1852,  of  Dr.  Bennett  for  $50,  and  I  now  "have  a  letter 
in  my  possession  from  Mr.  De  G.  to  Dr.  B.,  stating  that  a  friend 
had  offered  him  $150  for  this  same  pair  of  fowls,  and  he  refused 
to  sell  them  I 

The  stock  that  I  purchased  of  Dr.  Bennett  were  hatched  in 
the  same  nest  with  this  pair  sold  to  Mr.  De  G. ;  so  Dr.  Bennett 
writes  me.  I  am  well  aware  that  such  prices  will  appear  to  some 


38  THE  BRAHMA  POOTRA  FOWL. 

of  my  readers  as  fabulous,  yet  I  assure  them  it  is  strictly  so.  I 
have,  myself,  sold  seven  pairs  and  one  cock  of  this  breed,  lately, 
for  $110 ;  but  they  were  chickens,  from  two  to  four  months  old 
only. 

At  the  present  time  (November,  1852),  this  breed  is  nearly, 
if  not  quite  out  of  the  market,  all  having  been  bought  up 
throughout  New  England  at  very  high  figures. 

In  regard  to  hardiness,  I  can  truly  say  that  nothing  in  the 
way  of  poultry  can  excel  them.  The  chicks  are  the  most  easily 
raised  of  any  I  ever  saw.  Few,  or  none  die  of  disease,  as  far 
as  my  own  experience  goes,  and  what  I  learn  from  others  who 
have  bred  them.  They  are  covered  with  a  soft  down  that  pro- 
tects them,  similar  to  that  on  young  ducks,  and  the  morning 
dew  or  wet  grass  has  little  or  no  effect  upon  them.  If  you 
have  a  brood  hatch  you  can  count  upon  raising  every  chick, 
unless  killed  by  accident,  vermin,  or  some  other  enemy.  The 
feathers  of  these  fowls  equal  those  of  geese. 

During  the  summer  season  they  feed  on  grass  to  such  an 
extent  that  they  consume  no  more  food  than  our  smallest  com- 
mon breeds.  This  occurs  when  they  have  a  good  range  to  grass. 

This  breed  of  fowls  was  wholly  unknown  in  England,  till  Dr. 
Bennett  sent  a  pair  to  Mrs.  Hosier  Williams,  Eaton,  Mascott, 
near  Shrewsbury.  Mrs.  Williams  is  a  lady  of  distinction  in 
England,  and  one  of  the  most  ardent  fowl  fanciers  in  that 
country.  She  writes,  that  she  constanly  took  prizes  for  all  the 
fowls  she  has  exhibited  at  the  great  Poultry  Fair  in  Birmingham. 
She  read  Dr.  Bennett's  work  on  Domestic  Poultry,  and  noticing 
that  we  possess  some  breeds  not  known  there  (the  Brahmas  are 
not  described  in  that  work),  she  wrote  to  the  Doctor  to  do  her 
the  favor  to  procure  them  for  her.  He  then  sent  her  a  descrip- 
tion of  the  Brahma  Pootra  fowls,  in  the  Northern  Farmer,  as 
she  requested  him  to  advise  her,  if  any  new  breeds  had  been 
introduced  not  mentioned  in  his  work.  On  the  receipt  of  the 
paper  she  wrote  back  to  procure  a  pair  of  this  breed  at  any 
cost.  Here  is  an  extract  from  her  letter  on  receiving  the  fowls.: 

"Sir — Last  night  only,  I  received  safely  the  pair  of  Brahma  Pootra 
fowls,  per  steamer  America.  I  must  say,  they  more  than  realized 
my  expectations,  and  are  truly  splendid.  I  never  saw  young  fowls  of 
so  gigantic  a  size  and  weight,  and  they  have  many  decided  peculiari- 
ties which  distinguish  them  from  every  other  breed  1  have  hitherto 
seen.  I  am,  indeed,  not  a  little  proud  to  be  the  only  possessor  in 
Europe  of  such  a  pair  of  fowls,  and  I  can  not  sufficiently  thank  you 
for  so  perfectly  complying  with  my  wishes  by  sending  them." 


THE  BRAHMA  POOTRA  FOWL.  09 

Mrs.  Williams  then  offers  to  procure  for  Dr.  Bennett  any 
breed  of  fowls  in  England  that  he  may  desire — the  best  that 
England  can  produce  ;  and  adds  a  glowing  eulogy  on  Lord 
Hill's  Aylesbury  ducks.  Dr.  Bennett  has  requested  her  to 
procure  him  two  pairs  of  these  celebrated  ducks ;  one  pair  for 
himself,  and  the  other  for  me,  from  which  I  shall,  I  hope,  be 
able  to  introduce,  in  connection  with  Dr.  Bennett,  some  of  the 
best  ducks  in  the  world. 

The  fowls  sent  to  Mrs.  Williams,  have  created  much  excite- 
ment in  England  with  those  who  have  seen  or  heard  of  them. 
The  following  extract  is  from  a  letter  by  Wm.  Gust  Gwynne, 
M.  D.,  of  Sandbach,  Cheshire,  England,  to  Dr.  Bennett : 

"  Dear  Sir, — I  have  been  so  charmed  with  the  accounts  sent  me  by 
Mrs.  Hozier  Williams,  of  Eaton,  Mascott,  near  Shrewsbury,  of  her 
pair  of  Brahma  Pootra  fowls,  and  with  your  description  in  the  North- 
ern Farmer,  which  Mrs.  Williams  received  from  you,  and  forwarded 
to  me,  that  I  am  resolved,  if  possible,  to  possess  myself  of  the  birds." 

Dr.  Gwynne  then  goes  on  to  say,  that  he  has  remitted  a 
Bank  of  England  note,  equal  to  $24,  for  a  pair  of  chickens  of 
this  kind,  but  if  that  is  not  enough  he  will  send  more ;  but  he 
must  have  a  pair,  let  them  cost  what  they  may,  <fec. 

I  allude  to  those  matters  to  show  that  this  breed  of  fowls 
was  unknown  in  England  previous  to  Mrs.  Williams  receiving 
her  samples,  and  also  to  show  that  other  people  besides 
Americans  are  willing  to  pay  high  prices  for  them.  If  these 
fowls  are  not  what  they  are  represented  to  be,  then  we  must 
admit  that  we  can  place  no  confidence  whatever  in  the  written 
statements  and  opinions  as  expressed  in  public  prints. 

The  portraits  of  those  fowls  here  shown,  were  got  up  in  a 
plain  way — not  to  sell  the  fowls,  as  many  are,  and  they  are  in- 
ferior in  appearance  to  the  fowls  themselves,  yet  quite  true  to 
their  general  form  and  proportions. 


40 


6HAKGHAE.  FOWLS. 


BHANGHAE   FOWLS.  41 

SHANGHAE     FOWLS. 

This  breed  of  fowls  is  more  generally  bred,  at  this  time,  in 
the  United  States,  than  any  other  of  the  large  breeds,  for  the 
reason,  that  they  have  been  sold  at  comparatively  low  prices, 
and  are  truly  a  valuable  fowl. 

Mr.  A.  A.  Hudson,  of  Syracuse,  a  gentleman  who  has  had 
experience  in  raising  poultry,  furnishes  tho  annexed  cut,  and 
writes  as  follows : 

"Enclosed  I  send  you  an  engraving  of  my  Shanghae  fowls,  which 
received  the  first  premium  at  the  New  York  State  Agricultural  Fair, 
held  in  Rochester,  in  September  last.  The  engraving  is  taken  from  life 
by  an  experienced  artist  of  our  city,  (Mr.  Chase.)  It  is  considered  by 
those  who  have  seen  the  fowls,  to  be  a  perfect  resemblance,  and  the 
proportions  to  be  developed  in  the  most  perfect  manner. 

"The  weight  of  my  fowls,  when  exhibited  at  Rochester,  was  as  fol- 
lows :  cock,  10  Ibs.,  10  oz. ;  hens,  7  Ibs.  1  oz.,  and  7£  Ibs. ;  only  fifteen 
months  old. 

"If  farmers  only  knew  the  worth  of  these  fowls,  no  effort  would  be 
spared  to  obtain  them,  as  they  will  produce  more  eggs  in  four  months, 
than  any  common  fowl  will  in  twelve  months.  I  have  had  a  ready  sale 
for  all  my  fowls  raised  the  past  season,  at  prices  ranging  from  $3  to 
$10  a  pair,  according  to  age.  From  my  experience  in  raising  fowls,  I 
am  fully  of  the  opinion,  that  pure  blood  Shanghae  fowls  will  eventually 
drive  all  other  breeds  out  of  market.  There  can  be  no  doubt  of  this, 
as  they  are  certainly  the  best  fowls  in  America  for  laying,  and  they 
are  a  very  superior  fowl  for  the  table.  I  am  satisfied,  that  if  farmers 
would  abandon  all  their  common  fowls,  and  procure  Shanghae  fowls, 
they  would  realize,  at  least,  100  per  cent,  better  profits  than  they  now 
do.  There  is  no  mistake  about  this,  as  every  person  within  my 
knowledge,  who  has  tried  the  experiment,  will  testify.  You  may, 
perhaps,  think  me  prejudiced.  I  believe  I  am  not.  I  have  tried  most 
kinds  of  fowls,  and  experience  has  shown  me  what  I  have  now  stated. 
I  have  bred  the  Dorkings  from  as  good  stock  as  I  can  procure  in  tho 
State,  and  I  am  willing  to  say,  that  their  flesh  is  as  good  as  that  of  the 
Shanghaes,  but  no  better ;  and  for  laying,  they  will  excel  the  Dorkings 
by  30  per  cent. 

"The  raising  of  fowls  may  be  so  increased,  as  to  produce  an  annual 
income  of  from  $500  to  $1000  a  year,  on  any  ordinary  sized  farm. 
Every  farmer  might  produce  his  own  guano,  and  save  the  expense  of 
sending  abroad  for  it." 

Mr.  Hudson  is  not  acquainted  with  the  character  of  the 
Brahma  Pootra  fowls  nor  with  the  merits  of  several  other  breeds, 
I  presume,  as  valuable  as  the  Shanghaes. 

D.  Taggart,  Esq.,  attorney  at  law,  and  one  of  the  best  poultry 
breeders  in  Pennsylvania,  writes  me  as  follows : 

"  The  Shanghaes,  by  proper  attention,  can  be  made  to  yield  more 


42  8HANGHAE    FOWLS. 

eggs  than  any  other  breed.  The  chief  obstacle  in  the  -way  of  their 
fertility,  is  their  proneness  to  incubate.  By  care,  however,  this  can 
be  prevented,  and  if  so,  a  Shanghae  hen  will  scarcely  ever  miss  a  day 
without  producing  an  egg." 

The  letter,  from  which  the  above  brief  extract  was  taken  for 
publication  in  the  Northern  Farmer,  contained  much  more  mat- 
ter of  interest,  but  having  been  mislaid,  I  am  compelled  to 
forego  its  publication  here.  The  following  very  interesting 
communication,  of  a  subsequent  date,  will,  however,  partially 
atone  for  the  loss  of  the  original  one. 

NORTHUMBERLAND,  Pa.,  Nov.  21,  1851. 

My  Dear  Sir, — Since  writing  you  before,  I  have  attended  the  State 
Fairs  at  Rochester  and  Harrisburg,  and  have  returned  home  with  my 
former  notions  of  the  varieties  of  the  gallus  giganteus  very  consid- 
erably confused.  I  have  seen  almost  as  many  different  sorts  of  Shang- 
haes  as  can  be  found  among  the  common  dunghill  fowls — yellow,  red, 
dominique,  speckled,  white  and  black  ;  legs  of  every  color — feathered 
and  featherless — ranging  through  all  sizes,  from  ordinary  to  gigantic. 
And  this  of  a  breed,  which  my  previous  limited  researches  had  taught 
me,  was  primitive,  distinct  and  uniform. 

At  Harrisburg,  I  exhibited,  among  other  large  fowls,  a  pair  of 
beautiful  Shanghaes,  five  and  a  half  months  old,  of  unexceptionable 
pedigree,  descended  from  stock  I  purchased  last  year  of  Dr.  Kerr. 
Their  grand-parents  had  pecked  scraps  of  dog-pie  from  a  Chinese 
platter,  and  waked  the  tea-pickers  by  the  banks  of  the  Yang-Tse-Ki- 
ang,  to  their  morning  toil.  The  stag,  the  handsomest  color  imaginable 
— fine,  brilliant  yellow  dominique  ;  the  pullet,  glossy^,  light  yellow — 
both  heavily  feathered  upon  the  legs,  and  very  downy  in  plumage,  and 
according  to  the  books,  filling  every  requisite  of  pure,  thorough-bred 
Shanghaes,  for  which  they  were  purchased.  Nevertheless,  Mr.  New- 
bold,  of  Philadelphia,  himself  an  importer  of  fowls  from  Asia,  and 
who  deservedly  stands  high  as  a  naturalist  in  this  peculiar  branch, 
pronounced  them  Cochin  Chinas.  As  the  committee,  of  which  Mr.  N. 
was  chairman,  awarded  them  a  very  flattering  premium,  I  was  not 
disposed  to  quarrel  with  the  name,  but  like  Galileo  on  an  equally  im- 
portant occasion,  I  persisted  in  my  old  belief. 

A  cock,  about  as  heavy  as  an  ordinary  game  fowl,  with  short,  clean 
legs,  by  the  way,  a  very  handsome  bird,  was  adjudged  the  Shanghaest 
chicken  on  the  ground.  He  looked  some  like  a  cross  between  the 
Game  and  some  undersized  Cochin  China.  Thus  doctors  differ.  I 
apprehend  the  science  of  chickens,  when  it  comes  to  minute  classifi- 
cation, will  prove  almost  as  troublesome  as  entomology. 

A  number  of  gentlemen  import  large  fowls  from  China — one 
importation  differing  from  another.  Each  gentleman  considers  his 
own  the  only  pure  Shanghaes,  and  the  others,  of  course,  mere  adul- 
terations. The  truth  is,  I  doubt  not,  in  that  original  home  of  cocks 
and  hens,  they  have,  as  elsewhere,  in  the  course  of  ages,  obtained  an 
almost  endless  variety — some  differing  little,  derived  from  a  common 


8HANGHAE    FOWLS.  43 

starting  point — others  differing  much,  from  a  distinct  original.  I  am 
not  inclined  to  trace  every  variety  of  chickens,  from  the  Great  Malay 
to  the  Bantam,  to  a  common  progenitor.  Nor  do  I  yet  believe,  that 
every  extra  speckle,  or  every  superfluous  feather,  whether  on  top  of 
the  head,  under  the  throat,  or  upon  the  legs,  denotes  a  distinct  Adam 
cock,  and  Eve  hen.  A  middle  course  seems  to  be  the  sensible  one. 
No  man  can  believe,  that  the  Chittagong,  the  Game,  and  the  Bantam 
are  descended  from  the  same  stock,  and  yet  no  man  can  deny,  that 
wonderful  changes  in  external  appearance,  and  even  in  qualities,  can 
be  effected  by  the  careful  or  fanciful  breeder.  Some  years  ago,  I  came 
into  possession  of  three  common  grey  puddle  ducks — a  male,  and  two 
females.  These  birds  were  without  a  single  white  feather,  and  yet, 
by  aiming  at  white,  in  the  course  of  four  years,  I  had  from  these 
three,  a  flock  of  beautiful  white  ducks,  without  spot  or  blemish.  I 
could  more  easily  have  had  grey,  parti-colored,  or  dark,  if  I  had  chosen. 
Nay,  I  could  have  turned  the  white  flock  back  again,  for  though  that 
color,  when  once  established,  greatly  preponderated,  the  dusky  hues 
would  sometimes  re-appear.  And  thus  of  the  purest  fowls  you  or  I 
have  ever  seen.  From  yellow  or  buff  Shanghaes,  it  is  hardly  to  be 
doubted,  that  white  and  other  colors  could  be  obtained,  in  the 
course  of  a  few  generations,  if  constantly  aimed  at.  As  of  color,  so 
of  other  minor  characteristics. 

After  the  rearing  of  young  broods,  the  next  most  important  item, 
and  certainly  the  most  profitable,  where  fancy  prices  cannot  be 
obtained  for  chickens,  is  the  production  of  eggs.  In  France,  it  is  said, 
the  cooping  system  answers  very  well.  But  unless  the  citizens  of  the 
Grand  Republic  understand  the  necessities  of  egg-bearing  hens  better 
than  we  do,  or  minister  to  them  with  much  greater  care,  I  am  inclined 
to  doubt  the  statements.  I  know  very  well,  that  in  our  country, 
abundant  food  and  liberty  are  both  essential  to  long  continued  pro- 
ductiveness. On  a  limited  range,  a  hen  soon  exhausts  the  supplies  of 
grass,  worms,  gravel,  and  calcareous  matter,  that  are  necessary  to  her 
health,  enjoyment  and  fertility.  And  even  if  these  things  are  plenti 
fully  furnished  her,  a  difficulty  still  remains.  The  premises  will 
become  tainted  and  unwholesome,  in  spite  of  the  most  unremitting 
care.  I  have  had  hens  to  lay  tolerably  well  for  a  time,  when  confined, 
but  the  attention  they  required  was  tenfold,  and  their  prolificness  of 
short  duration.  Fruits  and  vegetables,  and  any  form  of  animal  food, 
are  highly  promotive  of  the  object  to  be  attained.  With  the  excep- 
tion of  hogs  and  men,  there  is  nothing  so  omniverous  as  a  chicken 
And  in  this  respect,  the  more  their  appetites  are  pampered,  the  better. 
Corn  to-day,  oats  to-morrow,  wheat  next  day,  and  "green  things" 
every  day,  is  a  good  system  of  rotation. 

If  I  were  a  butcher,  I  would  engage  to  supply  a  small  neighborhood 
with  eggs,  winter  and  summer,  by  keeping  hens  around  my  slaughter 
house,  to  live  on  bullocks'  blood,  scrapings,  and  other  odds  and  ends. 
I  can  imagine  no  better  food  for  poultry  than  corn  meal  saturated  with 
blood.  I  would  advise  every  knight  of  the  slaughter  weapon,  to  add 
a  hennery  to  his  premises,  thereby  securing  both  profit  and  pleasure. 
If  any  farmer  who  has  been  in  the  habit  of  wintering  one  hundred 
fowls  on  the  shift-for-themselves  principle,  will  reduce  his  flock  to 


44  6HANGHAE    FOWLS. 

fifty  of  the  finest  young  ones,  and  feed  these  regularly  and  plentifully, 
affording  them  reasonable  shelter  in  severe  cold,  he  will  find  the  yield 
of  eggs  greatly  increased,  and  the  destruction  of  grain  in  the  mow 
and  stack,  as  greatly  diminished.  When  chickens  are  permitted  to 
help  themselves,  they  are  apt  to  leave  in  exchange  what  does  not 
much  enhance  the  value  of  the  grain  they  fail  to  consume — "  verbum 
sapientibus  satis." 

The  killing  off  of  fowls  is  another  matter  worthy  of  consideration. 
The  number  of  a  hen's  eggs  is  generally  in  an  inverse  ratio  to  her 
years.  Unless  hens  are  great  favorites,  and  possess  very  remarkable 
personal  attractions,  they  should  not  be  permitted  to  live  beyond  two 
years.  Besides  their  comparative  barrenness,  their  gouty  dullness  in 
the  poultry  yard,  is  anything  but  ornamental.  "  Off  with  their  heads," 
before  they  get  too  old  to  be  eaten. 

Yours  truly,  DAVID  TAGGART. 

As  the  descriptions  of  our  most  valuable  fowls  have  hitherto 
been  very  meagre  in  works  on  poultry,  I  shall  give  full  details 
from  numerous  sources. 

Mr.  Miner, — Sir:  I  think  the  Shanghaes  are  very  excellent  fowls, 
especially  as  layers.  In  proof  of  this,  I  have  a  "  brown  Shanghae  " 
pullet  from  stock  of  the  Gillet  importation,  which  commenced  laying 
in  October  last,  and  has  layed  almost  daily,  ever  since,  notwithstand- 
ing the  severity  of  the  weather  for  a  few  weeks  past. 

H.  V/K  DlMMICK. 

Madison  Co.,  N.  Y.,  Feb.  5,  1852. 

Mr.  T.  B.  Miner — Dear  Sir :  Of  the  domesticated  large  breed  of 
fowls,  the  Shanghaes  are  conceded  to  be  the  best  for  general  purposes. 
They  are  as  large,  if  not  larger,  than  any  other  pure  breed,  and  have 
the  most  noble  and  commanding  appearance  of  any  fowl  I  have  ever 
seen ;  they  are  of  a  fine  form,  good  plumage,  very  peaceable  and  quiet, 
healthy,  easily  raised,  and  much  attached  to  home.  Mine  do  not  wan- 
der twenty  yards  from  the  house,  although,  did  they  choose,  they 
might  take  the  range  of  three  or  four  acres.  It  has  been  said  to  be 
a  dish  fit  for  an  Emperor,  when  well  cooked.  This  I  am  much  inclined 
to  doubt,  and  cannot  believe  they  are  equal  in  that  respect  to  the 
Games,  or  those  having  a  dash  of  that  blood  in  them.  I  have  not  as 
yet,  however,  tested  their  quality  as  table  food.  I  have  a  cockerel 
and  pullet  of  this  breed,  which  were  hatched  on  the  eighth  of  Janu- 
ry  last.  The  cockerel  now  weighs  seven  pounds,  three  ounces,  and 
the  pullet  six  pounds  and  three-quarters,  being  within  one  ounce  of 
fourteen  pounds,  for  a  pair  of  chickens  only  nine  months  old.  This 
ought  to  satisfy  any  reasonable  person  as  to  size.  The  pullet  has  not, 
as  in  the  case  of  the  Cochin,  commenced  as  yet  to  lay,  and  I  am  better 
satisfied  that  it  is  so,  as  the  commencing  so  soon  to  lay,  has  a  tendency 
to  retard  the  growth,  and  as  I  believe  this  to  be  a  pure  breed,  their 
precocity  is  not  so  great  as  a  first  cross  would  be,  or  for  instance,  the 
Chittagong  is,  which  has  been  known  to  commence  laying  at  five 
months  old. 


SHANGHAE    FOWLS.  45 

To  the  Chittagongs,  (so  called,)  I  am  not  partial,  on  account  of  its 
being  a  mixed  breed.  Their  progeny  are  of  all  descriptions  and 
colors-,-some  smooth,  and  some  with  their  legs  feathered  ;  and  again, 
some  having  nine  and  ten  toes.  They  are  also  deficient  in  form  to  the 
Cochin  or  Shanghae,  being  very  tall  in  proportion  to  thickness  of  body ; 
but  to  those  who  are  not  nice  in  such  matters,  and  who  think  that  all 
fowls  are  much  the  same  for  culinary  purposes,  they  may  do  very  well. 
They  very  often  attain  a  large  size,  arid  weigh  as  much,  if  not  more, 
than  any  other  variety.  They  are  good  layers  of  large  and  very  well- 
flavored  eggs,  if  well  fed.  I  have  a  hen  of  this  variety,  but  not 
knowing  when  she  was  hatched,  cannot  testify  as  to  her  precocity, 
but  can  as  to  her  prolific  qualities.  She  is  now  raising  her  third 
brood  of  chickens  this  year,  and  some  of  the  first  brood  now  stand 
twenty-four  inches  high,  and  all  promise  to  be  of  the  largest  size. 

I  would  recommend  to  those  who  breed  this,  and  other  varieties  of 
a  large  size,  to  put  saddles  on  the  hens'  backs,  (that  is,  a  piece  of 
thick  cloth,  but  not  so  closely  wove  that  the  cock  would  slip  off.  A 
piece  of  cotton-bagging  would  answer  very  well,  either  sewed  on,  or 
secured  with  tape),  to  prevent  them  from  being  lacerated  by  the  claws 
of  the  cock ;  or  put  eight,  ten,  twelve  or  enough  of  hens  to  satisfy  his 
salacity.  If  the  saddle  is  used,  it  will  be  necessary  to  examine  fre- 
quently beneath,  to  see  that  there  are  no  vermin.  A  smearing  of  the 
parts  with  oil  or  grease,  before  applying  it,  would  be  beneficial. 

A.  C.  Pnm 

Charleston,  S.  C. 

I  had  an  instance  the  last  season,  of  the  skin  of  the  sides  of 
a  hen  being  completely  stript  down,  by  the  sharp  claws  of  a 
large,  heavy  cock.  It  would  be  well  to  use  Mr.  Phin's  remedy. 

The  following  is  from  A.  T.  Newbold,  Esq.,  of  Philad.,  a  pio- 
neer in  the  importation  of  this  breed,  and  the  origin  of  the  name  : 

"In  the  spring  of  1847,  I  received,  direct  from  Shanghae,  by  Capt. 
G-.  W.  Lockwood,  of  the  ship  Tartar,  the  first  pair  of  native  fowls 
from  northern  China,  imported  to  this  country.  I  have  been  a  fancier 
of  fowls  for  thirty  years,  and  I  believe  that  I  have  had  every  known 
variety,  at  different  times.  There  have  been  many  different  fowls 
brought  from  Shanghae,  but  it  docs  not  follow,  that  all  are  the  pure 
native  breeds  of  northern  China.  On  the  contrary,  most  of  the  fowls 
at  the  port  of  Shanghae  are  hybrids,  as  'also  are  the  Cochin  Chinas. 
Previous  to  having  the  Shanghae  fowls,  (a  name  which  I  gave  them 
in  consequence  of  their  being  shipped  at  that  port,)  I  had  a  breed, 
which  I  called  the  "Grey  Eagle,"  improved  by  crossing  with  tho 
large  black  fowl  from  Algiers,  with  the  large  white  fowl  of  Poland, 
without  top  knot,  known  as  the  Baltic  fowl.  Although  hybrids,  they 
were  the  best  I  had  seen,  until  I  received  the  Shanghaes.  In  regard 
to  the  laying  qualities  of  the  Shanghaes,  you  can  judge,  when  I  state, 
and  vouch  for,  that  I  received  them  in  the  early  part  of  June,  in  very 
poor  condition.  The  hen  commenced  laying  on  the  19th  of  June,  and 
up  to  Dec.  3d,  I  had  127  chickens  from  her  eggs!  They  were  hatched 
under  other  hens,  of  course." 


46  SHANGHAE    FOWLS. 

The  color  of  the  Shanghaes  that  have  been  described,  is 
variable,  no  two  importations  being  exactly  alike.  Some  are 
yellow,  some  buff,  some  brown,  some  fawn-colored,  and  some 
black.  Their  weight  may  be  correctly  set  down,  as  averaging 
at  maturity,  from  fifteen  to  twenty  pounds  per  pair. 

I  have  a  pair  of  5w^-colored  Shanghaes,  that  are  very  supe- 
rior. The  hen  weighs  nine  pounds,  fifteen  months  old;  the 
cock  is  younger,  but  will  probably  draw  twelve  pounds  when 
two  years  old.  The  pullet  is  so  short  in  the  legs,  and  heavy 
in  the  body,  that  she  walks  with  difficulty.  She  is  a  perfect 
fowl  in  every  respect,  and  now  lays  daily,  (Jan.  10th,  1853.) 
Here  is  a  very  good  delineation  of  her,  but  this  cut  was  not 
engraved  expressly  to  represent  her  : 

I  have  procured  these  fowls 
as  the  best  specimens  in  the 
country,  being  resolved  to  spare 
no  expense  in  obtaining  the 
best  of  the  various  breeds  that 
I  shall  keep,  and  I  believe  the 
State  of  New  York  cannot  pro- 
duce a  Shanghae  pullet  that 
is  her  equal  in  all  the  good 
points  that  constitute  a  perfect 
fowl.  I  shall  not  be  able  to 
spare  any  eggs  from  this  pair 
before  another  year.  My  own 
candid  opinion  in  regard  to  Shanghaes,  is,  that  they  are  next 
to  Brahma  Pootras,  and  as  the  latter  cannot  be  had  at  less  than 
$15  to  $25  a  pair,  the  Shanghaes  are  the  fowl,  at  present,  for 
the  public  generally. 

In  purchasing,  pay  no  regard  to  the  "stock"  the  fowls  are 
said  to  be  from,  as  you  can  place  little  dependance  on  such 
evidence  of  their  value,  but  see  that  you  get  a  short-legged, 
compact  fowl,  with  a  short  tail,  legs  feathered  heavily  as  a  gen- 
eral rule,  a  bright  eye,  single  serrated  comb,  and  the  weight  of 
pullets  at  eight  months  old,  not  less  than  six  pounds,  and  cocks 
of  the  same  age,  eight  pounds,  at  least,  with  an  increase  of  two 
to  threa  pounds  on  each,  when  mature.  The  price  for  good 
specimens,  is  from  $3  to  $10  a  pair,  and  even  higher  for  very 
fine  extra  fowls. 


SHANGHAE    FOWLS. 


R.      C.     M 'COR  MICK,      JR 


SHANGHAES. 
Eighteen  Months  Old— Bred  from  Imported  Stock. 

friend  Miner, — In  fulfilment  of  my  promise,  I  now  send  you 
sketches  of  some  of  my  fowls,  taken  from  life,  a  few  days  since.  The 
specimens  portrayed,  are  fair  representatives  of  the  kind  that  I  have 
bred  for  several  years  past,  the  Shanghaes,  and  which  I  now  esteem 
much  higher  than  any  other  variety  that  has  yet  attracted  my  atten- 
tion. In  1851,  I  obtained  from  the  bark  "Gallego,"  at  New  York, 
from  Shanghae  direct,  a  number  of  pairs  of  Shanghae  fowls,  equal  in 
size  and  quality,  I  believe,  to  any  of  the  celebrated  importations  hith- 
erto made.  From  these  fowls  I  have  raised  a  large  number,  and  their 
progeny  well  sustain  their  characteristics.  The  drawing  of  old 
fowls,  now  forwarded,  was  taken  from  a  pair  bred  from  the  import- 
ed stock,  and  now  eighteen  months  old.  No  attempt  has  been  made 
to  put  flesh  upon  them ;  they  have  the  run  of  the  farm,  and  pick  up 
most  of  their  living  thereabouts,  and  are  now  only  in  ordinary  condi- 
tion. Their  weight,  a  few  days  since,  was  nineteen  pounds;  and, 
highly  fed,  they  would,  in  all  probability,  draw  a  number  of  pounds 
more.  The  cock  is  of  a  dark-red  color ;  his  legs,  very  large,  of  a 


•48 


SHANGHAE   FOWLS. 


handsome  flesh-color,  and  heavily  feathered ;  he  stands  up  loftily, 
measuring  about  thirty  inches ;  and  combines,  with  great  size  and 
weight,  much  symmetry  and  beauty  in  his  form ;  and  this  I  think 
quite  desirable,  for  in  this  world,  even  roosters,  are  valued  by  many 
for  their  graceful  appearance ;  and  I  myself  like  to  see  them  exhibit 
a  good  proportion  and  graceful  figure.  I  have  seen  many  heavy  fowls 
that  I  would  not  give  crowing  room — their  clumsy,  uncouth  forms 
"  without  shape  or  comeliness  "  ;  and  their  awkward  movements  certain- 
ly invite  ridicule,  and  give  good  cause  for  dislike.  The  hen  shown  in 
this  cut,  is  from  the  same  imported  stock.  She  is  of  a  deep  copper- 
color,  and  stands  well  up,  though  the  artist  has  given  her  rather  long 
legs ;  her  limbs  are  exceedingly  large,  yet  her  formation  is  very  com- 
pact. In  every  respect  she  is  a  valuable  hen — a  good  egg-producer, 
an  attentive  mother,  and  withal,  a  remarkably  well-behaved,  quiet, 
honest  fowl.  Her  head  is  serpent-like,  and  her  eye  sharp ;  and 
throughout,  she  presents,  what  I  consider,  the  true  marks  of  the  real 
Shanghae. 


m 


SHANGHAE     CHICKS 

EiyTit  Month*  Old. 


SHANGHAE    FOWLS.  49 

The  sketch  of  chicle*  is  intended  to  represent  a  pair,  bred  from 
my  old  fowls.  They  are  now  eight  months  old,  and  weigh  seven- 
teen pounds.  They  resemble  very  much  the  original  stock.  The 
crower  is  of  a  deep-red  hue,  very  tall  and  heavily  built,  and  is  a 
promising  bird.  The  pullet,  his  mate,  is  of  a  buff-color,  and  now 
weighs  eight  pounds.  (No  means  have  been  used  to  fatten  these 
chicks.)  She  is,  of  all  my  Shanghaes,  the  favorite.  I  think  her  body 
is  somewhat  longer  than  drawn  in  the  sketch,  but  you  may  form  a  very 
good  idea  of  her  shape  therefrom.  She  has  a  perfect  serpent-head, 
and  very  heavy,  flesh-colored  legs,  thickly  feathered,  down  to  the  toes ; 
her  wings  are  small,  and  her  frame  extremely  broad.  I  do  not  remem- 
ber to  have  met,  even  in  the  yards  of  the  celebrated  fanciers  of  Bos- 
ton and  vicinity,  (that  notorious  chicken  district,)  a  chick  or  old  fowl 
that  seemed  to  me  to  comply  more  fully  with  all  of  the  distinguishing 
peculiarities  claimed  for  the  pure  Shanghae.  At  the  fair  of  our  County 
Agricultural  Society,  held  at  Flushing,  in  October  last,  no  fowl  was 
admired  more  than  this  pullet.  Many  amateurs  and  breeders  pro- 
nounced her  superior  to  anything  of  the  kind  that  they  had  ever  seen. 
I  have  had  numerous  proposals,  but  incline  to  keep  her,  and  hope  to 
have  "  more  of  the  same  sort."  I  do  not  suppose  that  she  surpasses 
everything  in  the  country,  but  would  only  intimate  that  I  have  never 
had  her  equal,  of  similar  age,  etc.  Perhaps  my  excessive  admiration 
has  Jed  me  to  eulogise  too  highly  "  my  pet."  Could  you  see  her 
though,  I  think  that  you  would  fully  agree  with  me  in  praising  her. 

So  much  towards  describing  the  "pictures."  You  want  my  opinion 
of  Shanghaes  generally.  At  any  rate,  I  will  speak  of  no  other  species 
now.  They  are  my  first  choice,  and,  of  course,  get  my  first  notice.  I 
have  chosen,  as  specimens  of  my  stock,  the  birds  sketched,  believing 
that  they  display  the  genuine  traits  of  the  breed.  There  are  many 
cocks  strutting  about  my  yard,  whose  voices  have  oft  welcomed  the 
dawn  of  the  oriental  sun,  and  many  hens  too,  natives  of  the  Celestial 
Empire  no  w  cackle  daily  round  my  barn.  But  I  consider  their  Amer- 
ican offspring,  better  birds.  And  why  should  they  not  be?  The 
anxiety  endured  by  their  parents,  in  being  torn  away  from  their 
homes  and  friends  in  the  days  of  their  youth,  (as  they  had  generally 
been,)  with  the  hardships  and  fatigue  of  six  months  in  a  small  coop, 
on  the  "  rolling  ocean,"  is  sufficient  to  render  them  imperfect  in  their 
developments ;  for  while  sea  voyages  may  greatly  benefit  the  mem- 
bers of  the  human  family,  I  doubt  exceedingly  their  material  improve- 
ment to  the  feathered  race.  Chickens  are  by  nature  land  lubbers,  and 
the  sea  is  anything  but  agreeable  to  their  health  and  condition. 

I  have  been  familiar  with,  and  have  owned  poultry  of  almost  every 
known  variety,  and  from  personal  experience,  now  fe«l  ready,  as  I  have 
before  intimated,  to  give  the  Shanghaes  the  pa.lm,  considering  them  tru- 
ly the  ne  plus  ultra  of  chickendom.  No  fowl  is  better  adapted  to  the 
farmers'  wants,  none  can  be  more  easily  reared,  and  none  are  less'dis- 
posed  to  injure  or  destroy  his  property,  nor  is  any  more  productive  or 
hardy.  I  think  that  they  excel  even  the  Black  Polands  in  laying. 
Last  winter,  during  the  unusually  severe  weather,  when  all  others  had 
ceased  laying,  my  Shanghae  hens  were  daily  obliging  me  with  their 
rich  eggs,  (all  of  a  deep  cinnamon-color.)  I  have  no  stories  to  tell  of 
3 


50  SHANGHAE    FOWLS. 

two  eggs  per  day,  but  you  may,  with  almost  a  certainty,  rely  upon  re- 
ceiving one  good  egg  every  day  from  a  Shanghae  hen,  and  occasionally 
I  get  one  with  two  yolks,  as  large  as  a  turkey's,  measuring  afoot  or  less 
around !  For  breeding,  these  fowls  are  excellent.  It  is  all  untrue 
and  libelous  in  the  extreme,  to  brand  them  "poor  setters"  and 
inefficient  mothers ;  they  hatch  their  eggs  well,  and  rear  their  young 
with  great  care  and  success.  It  is  not  ^Infrequently  the  case,  that 
every  member  of  a  large  brood  reaches  maturity. 

In  all  respects  then,  the  Shanghae  is  a  most  desirable  species,  the 
introduction  of  which  into  our  country,  has  formed  a  new  era  in  the 
history  of  poultry  and  poultry  breeding,  and  will,  I  think,  prove  of 
great  benefit  to  the  land.  Poultry  breeding  has  become  so  extensive 
A  business,  that  it  is  to  the  interest  of  the  citizens  of  the  United  States, 
that  all  improvements  in  the  varieties,  etc.,  should  be  encouraged, 
and  the  scattering  through  the  States,  of  this  capital  and  profitable 
breed,  will,  in  my  estimation,  do  much  toward  raising  the  quality  and 
increasing  the  value  of  our  domestic  poultry. 

I  have  not  entered  into  detailed  descriptions,  as  I  should  like  to  have 
done,  and  find  that  already  my  letter  is  quite  too  long.  But  I  suppose 
that  there  are  but  few  in  our  country  now,  who  are  not  more  or  less 
familiar  with  the  Shanghae.  I  have  sent  of  my  stock  to  the 
Northern  and  Southern  States,  and  to  the  West  Indies,  and  have 
heard  th-e  most  favorable  reports.  I  have  not,  nor  do  I  intend,  to 
breed  for  the  market,  or  for  profit,  but  from  an  innate  love  for 
"  chickens,"  (alive,)  and  a  special  interest  in  this  species,  have  devoted 
much  of  my  time  and  attention  to  its  study  and  keeping..  I  shall  be 
pleased  to  furnish  you,  or  the  readers  of  your  book,  with  any  further 
information  relative  to  my  Shanghaes,  that  you  may  at  any  time 
desire,  which  my  continued  study  of  their  "manners  and  customs," 
may  afford. 

I  may,  perhaps,  mention,  that  to  avoid  breeding  in  and  in,  (a  prac- 
tice to  which  I  am  strongly  opposed,)  and  in  order  to  breed  directly 
from  imported  stock,  I  replenished  my  yards  last  spring  by  an  impor- 
tation per  ship  "  Oneida,"  at  New  York,  and  within  a  few  days,  I 
have  received  an  additional  invoice  per  ship  "  Oriental,"  at  New  York, 
from  Shanghae  direct,  in  a  short  passage. 

The  accompanying  "  sketches,"  were  prepared  by  Nathaniel  Or, 
Esq.,  the  distinguished  engraver  of  New  York,  and  although  pro- 
nounced exceedingly  accurate  and  artistic,  they  still  carry  to  the 
uninitiated,  a  very  imperfect  idea  of  the  size  and  beauty  of  these 
fowls. 

With  continued  respect, 

Yours  truly, 

RICHARD  C.  McCoRMiCK,  JJR. 

Woodville,  near  Jamaica,  Long  Island,  N.  Y.,  ) 
December  22d,  1852.         J 


SHANGHAE    FOWLS.  61 

IMPERIAL      CHINESE      FOWLS. 

This  variety  of  fowls  are  said  to  have  been  produced  orig- 
inally from  a  cross  between  Marsh's  or  Forbes'  Shanghaes  and 
the  "  Cochin  Chinas."  The  committee  of  the  South  Carolina 
Poultry  Society,  in  their  report,  say  : 

"IMPERIAL  CHINESE," — This  name  has  been  given  to  a  large  variety 
of  fowl  produced  by  crossing  the  Forbes'  Shanghae  on  the  Cochin  China 
fowl.  They  are  very  large,  and  the  best  cross  breed,  we  are  acquainted 
with." 

These  fowls  have  been  represented  as  being  the  Marsh  Shan- 
gaes.  If  they  are  a  cross,  as  has  been  represented,  I  shall 
not  conceal  the  fact,  as  I  ana  pledged  to  give  the  truth,  as  far  as 
possible,  without  fear  or  favor.  I  have  received  a  pair  of  this 
variety  from  the  yard  of  C.  C.  Plaisted,  Esq.,  of  Great  Falls,  N. 
H.,  and  I  can  bear  testimony  to  their  being  a  very  fine  fowl ; 
short  legs,  compact  bodies,  and  possessing  the  good  points  of 
the  best  specimens  of  Shanghaes.  The  cock  is  a  light-red, 
merging  in  brown.  The  hen  is  of  a  beautiful  variegated 
plumage,  partaking  of  the  shades  of  the  dominique  fowl  to 
some  extent.  I  am  opposed  to  multiplying  names  of  fowls, 
without  a  good  reason,  and  when  they  are  not  unquestionably 
a  distinct  breed  ;  and  if  we  admit  the  right  of  breeders  to  give 
a  new  name  to  every  cross  that  is  produced,  we  should  soon 
find  ourselves  in  a  labyrinth  of  confusion  in  the  nomenclature 
of  our  poultry. 

In  making  these  remarks,  I  do  not  wish  to  be  understood  as 
speaking  in  disparagement  of  these  fowls,  for  I  consider  them 
as  a  very  superior  fowl,  and  one  of  those  fortunate  crosses  (if 
they  are  a  cross,)  that  produce  a  better  fowl  than  either  of  the 
parents,  and  consequently  sell  at  a  higher  price.  I  have  not 
bred  my  specimens  yet,  having  received  them  recently.  I  expect 
to  produce  some  splendid  samples  next  season,  however,  and 
I  will  then  give  a  more  detailed  description  of  them  in  the 
Northern  Farmer.  They  now  sell  at  $10  to  $15  a  pair. 

Here  is  Dr.  Bennett's  description  of  this  variety.  I  have  had 
no  engraving  taken  of  them,  in  consequence  of  their  affinity  to 
the  Shanghaes.  They  are  well  represented  in  model  by  Mr. 
Hudson's  cut  of  Shanghaes,  before  inserted,  and  the  cuts  which 
follow. 

"This  breed  of  fowls  is  ranked,  by  common  consent,  as  one  of  the 
best  varieties  now  bred  in  New  England ;  and  this  position  is  accorded 
to  them  on  account  of  size,  beauty,  and  general  valuable  properties. 


52  SHANGHAI    FOWLS. 

"  The  appearance  of  these  birds  is  attractive,  and  exceedingly  majes- 
tic. The  color  of  the  cocks  is  generally  red  and  brown,  and  the  hens 
are  usually  dark  yellow.  They  bear  large,  single  combs,  and  the  wat- 
tles are  large,  also.  The  cheeks,  or  ear  lobes,  are  large,  and  of  a 
clear  red.  They  have  long  necks  and  legs,  and  the  legs  are  usually 
yellow,  and  frequently  feathered,  though  some  of  the  best  specimens 
are  without  feathers,  and  are  dark. 

"They  have  four  toes  on  each  foot,  and  these  are  of  extraordinary 
length.  The  wings  and  tails  are  very  short,  like  those  of  the  Cochin 
China  fowl,  and  the  plume  feathers  are  of  a  beautiful  green.  The 
chickens  feather  slowly,  but  are  very  strong  and  healthy.  They  are 
seldom  affected  by  disease,  even  when  other  breeds  in  the  same,  yard 
are  feeble  and  sickly.  Though  it  may  seem  strange  that  birds  which 
feather  so  slowly,  should  endure  the  rigors  of  a  northern  climate,  yet 
these  are  among  the  most  vigorous  chickens,  and  stand  the  cold  better 
than  those  which  feather  at  an  early  age. 

"  The  weight  of  these  fowls  is  a  remarkable  characteristic.  The  im- 
ported pair  are  said  to  have  weighed  twenty-three  pounds;  the  cock 
weighing  xipwards  of  thirteen  pounds.  I  have  one,  eleven  months 
old,  from  imported  stock,  which  weighs  a  trifle  over  eleven  and  a  half 
pounds. 

"  The  difference  in  weight  between  the  cocks  and  hens  of  this  breed, 
is  very  great — in  fact,  they  are  rather  disproportioned.  For  instance, 
a  cockerel  of  mine,  six  months  and  fifteen  days  old,  weighed  nine 
poxinds,  strong,  while  the  best  pullet  of  the  same  brood,  only  weighed 
five  pounds,  at  the  same  age.  At  the  same  time,  I  weighed  a  pair  of  my 
Brahma  Pootras,  five  months  and  twenty-one  days  old — the  cockerel 
drew  eight  pounds,  and  the  pullet  five  pounds  and  a  half — a  much 
Letter  proportion.  On  the  whole,  the  Imperial  Chinese  are  fully  equal 
in  size  to  the  best  specimens  of  grey  Chittagong  fowls,  but  are  superior 
in  fineness  of  flesh,  and  are  decidedly  better  layers. 

"The  eggs  of  these  fowls  are  of  a  medium  size,  and  tinged  with  a 
salmon-color.  There  are  no  fowls  more  prolific.  The  imported  hen, 
the  mother  of  my  fowls,  laid  135  eggs  in  147  consecutive  days,  and 
another  of  Mr.  Marsh's  hens,  of  this"  breed,  laid  86  eggs  in  91  consec- 
utive days.  They  begin  to  lay  early,  usually  at  five  months  old,  and 
lay  continuously. 

"  Mr.  Marsh  says,  under  date  of  April  26,  1850,  that  he  has  'a  pul- 
let hatched  Dec.  23d,  which  began  to  lay  April  23d.'  One  of  mine, 
hatched  April  10th,  began  to  lay  August  25th.  In  another  letter, 
dated  May  4th,  1850,  Mr.  Marsh  says,  'one  hen  that  has  laid  almost 
daily  for  the  last  seven  months,  has  but  lately  evinced  a  desire  to  sit.' 

"The  committee  of  the  Poultry  and  Bird  Exhibition,  at  the  Fitch- 
burg  Depot,  Boston,  on  the  2d,  3d,  and  4th  of  October,  1850,  in 


the  committee  say,  '  The  Imperial  Chinese  fowls,  contributed  by  Dr. 
Bennett,  were  splendid  birds.  The  crower  and  pullet  ehown,  were 
six  and  a  half  months  old,  [this  is  an  error — they  lacked  eight  days  of 
being  six  months  old,]  and  were  very  large — the  cock  weighing  over 


SHANGHAE    FOWLS.     •  53 

eight  pounds.  They  were  from  the  Marsh  stock,  of  which  mention 
has  already  been  made.' 

"  The  Boston  Traveler  says — '  They  are  among  the  largest  and  finest 
fowls  in  the  country,  and  are  considered  as  one  of  the  best  importa- 
tions ever  made.  They  are  unsurpassed  as  layers,  and  very  fine 
fleshed.' 

"Dr.  Thomas  Gailard,  of  Claiborne,  Alabama,  in  a  letter  dated 
Sept.  23d,  1850,  in  speaking  of  these  fowls,  observes:  'You  will 
inquire  whether  my  expectations  have  been  realized.  I  answer, 
entirely  so.  The  Imperial  Chinese  are  the  most  splendid  fowls  I  ever 
*  beheld  ;  and,  although  my  anticipations  were  somewhat  extravagant, 
they  surpass  the  standard  of  excellence  I  have  assigned  to  them.  All 
who  have  seen  them,  concur  in  this  estimate  of  their  qualities.  I 
have  been  already  offered  for  a  pair  of  chickens,  when  old  enough  to 
be  taken  from  the  mother,  the  cost  to  me  of  the  parents,  $15  a  pair, 
besides  the  freight.' " 

On  sending  me  the  specimens  of  "  Imperial  Chinese,"  Mr. 
Plaisted  remarks : 

"  The  hen  is  one  of  my  best  specimens,  for  I  want  you  to  have  the 
best  stock  in  the  country.  She  is  in  a  heavy  moult  now,  but  when  in 
feather  is  a  splendid  hen,  and  precisely  the  color  and  marks  of  the 
old  imported  hen  that  Mr.  Marsh  speaks  of  in  his  description,  that 
laid  135  eggs  in  147  days.  I  have  one  hen  that  weighs  nine  pounds, 
and  the  same  color  as  yours.  I  would  not  part  with  her  at  any  price. 
I  have  refused  $15  for  her,  several  times," 

Geo.  A.  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Georgia,  writes  to  Dr.  Bennett  as 
follows : 

"The  first  pair  of  Imperial  Chinese  fowls  I  bought  from  you  for  my 
friend,  Mr.  A.  B.  Ross,  have  proved  themselves  to  be  a  trump.  At  the 
time  of  our  fair,  in  1851,  before  the  pullet  was  a  year  old,  she  had 
laid  120  eggs.  Twenty -five  of  the  chickens  were  on  the  ground,  and 
were  sold  to  one  man  for  $125.  He  retailed  them  out  for  $180.  From 
the  15th  of  January  to  the  15th  of  October,  she  laid  215  eggs.  There 
was  sent  to  the  fair  66  chickens,  of  various  sizes,  that  sold  for  $240, 
besides  several  pairs  that  were  given  away.  They  are  among  the 
finest  fowls  that  I  know  of.  They  are  large,  and  very  hardy." 

James  McClintock,  M.  D.,  Professor  in  the  Philadelphia 
College  of  Medicine,  and  who  has  a  very  extensive  assortment 
of  poultry,  at  his  country  residence  in  Bustleton,  has  recently 
imported  from  England  some  splendid  specimens  of  "  Imperial 
Chinese  "  fowls,  known  there  (England,)  as  "  Partridge-col- 
ored Cochin  Chinas."  I  am  assured  by  both  Dr.  Bennett  and 
Dr.  McClintock,  that  the  foregoing  descriptions  may  truly  apply 
to  this  importation,  as  regards  all  the  characteristics  furnished 
by  Dr.  B.  This  indicates  that  these  fowls  are  not  a  cross,  as 
Dr.  McClintock's  importation  are  said  to  be  a  pure  breed.  I 


54  SHANGHAE   FOWLS. 

hope  that  those  bred  here  are  of  pure  blood.  My  anxiety  to 
furnish  a  true  history  of  the  various  breeds,  led  me  to  make 
the  foregoing  remarks,  presuming  that  the  S.  C.  Poultry  Society 
spoke  with  authority,  and  understandingly,  and  the  fowls  being 
so  scarce  and  unknown,  except  to  a  few  individuals,  that  I,  in 
the  haste  of  putting  my  work  to  press  with  the  utmost  despatch, 
to  meet  the  demands  of  the  public,  was  compelled  to  omit  to 
apply  for  further  and  more  distinct  information. 


BHANGHAE   FOWLS. 


DR.    M'CLINTOCK'S    IMPERIAL    CHINESE    COCK. 

The  above  is  a  true  representation  from  life,  of  Dr.  McClin- 
tock's  Imperial  Chinese  rooster ;  weight  nine  pounds,  but  will 
probably  draw  eleven  or  twelve  pounds  when  six  months  older. 
I  learn  that  the  flesh  of  this  breed,  as  well  as  those  bred  in  this 
country,  is  of  a  beautiful  yellow  when  dressed.  In  brief,  both 
the  American  bred  and  English  fowls  are  splendid  in  model, 
plumage,  <fec.,  and  must  be  popular. 


56 


SHANGHAE    FOWLS, 


DR.  M'CLINTOCK'S  IMPERIAL   CHINESE   PULLET. 

The  weight  of  the  above  fowl  is  eight  pounds  and  three- 
quarters — as  fine  a  hen  as  on 3  need  to  look  at.  She  is  heavily 
feathered  on  the  legs,  which  are  short,  and  she  has  that  com- 
pactness of  body  that  always  denotes  a  good  fowl  of  any 
breed.  Dr.  McClintock  may  well  be  proud  of  such  fowls,  for 
their  like  is  not  often  seen.  They  are  however,  not  superior  to 
the  specimens  that  I  have  received  from  C.  C.  Plaisted,  Esq.,  of 
Great  Falls,  N.  H.,  who  has  a  large  number  equally  large  and 
fine. 


SHANGHAE   FOWLS. 


MODEL      COCK. 


This  cut  was  originally  designed  to  represent  the  "  grey  7t 
Shanghaes,  so  called,  or  Brahma  Pootra  fowl,  but  I  consider  the 
design  quite  as  appropriate  for  our  lightest  colored  buff  Shang- 
haes, as  for  any  specimens  of  the  above  breed.  My  buff 
Shanghaes,  to  which  I  have  previously  alluded,  are  almost  a 
fac  simile,  in  model,  at  least,  of  these  cuts.  I  have  just 
received  these  portraits  from  my  engraver,  which  is  the  reasoa 
3* 


58 


6HANGHAE   FOWLS. 


why  I  did  not  Jnsert  them  at  the  place  where  my  fowls  are 
described. 

There  are  some  specimens  of  the  Brahma  Pootra  fowl  that 
conform  very  closely  to  the  portraits  here  given.  A  portion  of 
my  pullets  are  truly  portrayed  by  the  cut  that  follows : 


MODEL  BRAHMA  POOTRA,  OR  8HANGHAE  HEN 
AND  CHICK. 

And  if  the  dark  pencilings  of  the  neck  were  changed  to  a 
bright,  yellow-brown  hue,  my  buff  Shanghae  hen  would  have 
a  perfect  portrait. 

Here  I  will  observe,  that  these  portraits  are  a  guide  in  pur- 
chasing good  fowls,  of  all  breeds.  See  what  beautiful,  compact 
forms.  These  are  none  of  your  long,  lean,  lank,  crane-looking 
fowls,  all  bones  and  offal,  that  have  brought  discredit  on  the 
really  good  breeds.  The  portraits  are  not  original ;  I  have 
copied  them. 


SHANGHAE    FOWLS.  59 

DOMINIQUE      SHANGHAES. 

This  is  a  new  and  distinct  breed,  and  recently  imported.  I 
had  heard  of  the  fame  of  this  breed,  and  feeling  desirous  of 
being  able  to  speak  from  ocular  demonstration  of  their  merits, 
I  sent  to  A.  White  Esq.,  of  East  Randolph,  Mass.,  for  a  pair  of 
his  best  specimens.  Mr.  White,  in  connection  with  another  gen- 
tleman, imported  this  rare  breed  direct  from  Shanghae,  China, 
and  these  fowls  are  now  owned  by  only  a  very  few  individuals  in 
this  country,  that  is,  the  pure  dominique  Shanghaes.  Their  shape 
is  very  much  like  the  preceding  cuts,  and  only  differ  from  those 
portraits  in  color.  They  are  of  precisely  the  same  blue-speckled 
hue  of  our  native  dominique  fowls,  yet  they  have  every  other 
characteristic  of  our  best  Shanghaes.  Their  legs  are  feathered, 
combs  single  and  serrated,  &c.,  like  the  buff,  red,  white  and 
black  breeds,  and  they  will  draw  about  the  same  number  of 
pounds  at  maturity.  The  cock  in  my  possession  is  pronounced 
by  an  experienced  breeder  as  the  best  in  Oneida  Co.  They  are 
worth  from  $10  to  $15  a  pair. 


p.    MELLENDY'S    DOMINIQUE    SHANGHAES. 

Mr.  P.  Mellendy,  of  Mount  Healthy,  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio,  sent 
me  the  above  cut,  representing  his  dominique  Shanghae  fowls. 
He  says : 


60  SHANGHAE    FOWLS. 

"  The  above  portraits  represent  a  pair  of  fowls  obtained  from  H. 
L.  Devereux,  Boston,  Mass.  The  father  and  mother  of  the  above 
pair,  Mr.  D.  got  of  Dr.  Kerr,  of  Philadelphia,  which  he  imported  in 
1847.  The  cock  is  yellow,  or  redish  dominique;  the  hens  are  of  a 
dark-yellow.  The  cock  is  now  eleven  months  old,  and  can  reach 
thirty -four  inches  high;  the  hen  stands  about  twenty-eight  inches 
high.  The  plumage  of  the  thorough-bred  Shanghae  is  remarkably 
soft  and  silky,  or  rather  downy,  and  is  equally  as  good,  for  domestic 
purposes,  as  that  of  the  goose." 

These  are  a  very  different  fowl  from  the  White  importation, 
such  as  I  have  received.  They  can  hardly  be  called  dominique 
Shanghaes. 

I  have  received  no  detailed  description  of  the  dominique 
fowls  imported  by  Mr.  White,  owing  to  the  short  time  they 
have  been  in  the  country,  and  I  must  refer  the  interested  reader 
to  more  full  particulars  in  the  Northern  Farmer,  when  their 
merits  are  more  fully  developed. 

"PERLEY"    AND    "PALMER"    SHANGHAES. 

Since  every  new  importation  of  Shanghaes  receives  the  name 
of  the  importer,  to  identify  it  from  other  breeds,  I  fear  that 
the  list  of  names  to  designate  such  importations,  will,  ere  long, 
swell  to  an  unwieldy  length ;  yet,  I  have  no  control  of  these 
things,  and  only  act  as  a  chronicler  of  what  exists  in  the  empire 
of  fowldom.  The  "Perley"  and  "Palmer"  Shanghaes  are 
spoken  of  very  highly.  They  are  both  recent  importations. 
Dr.  Bennett  writes  me,  under  date  of  Jan.  9th,  1853,  as  follows  : 

Friend  Miner, — To-day  I  forward  to  Mr.  De  Gruy,  two  cocks  and 
three  pullets  of  the  Palmer  importation  of  Shanghaes.  One  cock, 
hatched  on  the  15th  of  May  last,  which  weighs  ten  pounds  and  two 
ounces  ;  the  other  cock,  hatched  on  the  20th  of  May,  and  weighs  ten 
porfnds,  strong.  One  of  the  pullets,  hatched  July  1st,  weighs  eight 
pounds ;  another,  same  age,  seven  pounds  and  eight  ounces ;  and  the 
third,  hatched  on  the  6th  of  August,  weighs  six  pounds  and  ten  ounces. 

I  likewise  send  Mr.  De  Gruy,  to-day,  one  cock  and  four  pullets  of 
the  Perley  importation  of  Shanghaes.  The  cock  was  hatched  on  the 
17th  of  June  last,  and  weighs  nine  pounds  and  fourteen  ounces.  One 
of  the  pullets,  same  age,  weighs  eight  pounds;  another,  same  age, 
seven  pounds  and  fifteen  ounces;  and  the  other,  same  age,  seven 
pounds  and  fourteen  ounces ;  the  fourth  pullet,  hatched  20th  July, 
weighs  six  pounds  and  twelve  ounces. 

Mr.  De  Gruy,  here  alluded  to,  is  an  extensive  breeder  of 
fowls  in  the  suburbs  of  New  Orleans. 

3* 


6HANGHAE    FOWLS.  61 

The  following  letter  was  forwarded  to  me  by  Dr.  Bennett : 

•    -___..  GEEAT  FALLS,  Jan.  9th,  1862. 

BE.  J.  C.  BENNETT — Dear  Sir :  You  requested  me  to  give  you  a 
description  of  the  Palmer  breed  of  fowls,  which  I  will  now  endeavor 
to  do.  They  are  very  large.  I  have  known  some  of  the  cocks  to 
weigh  from  twelve  to  thirteen  pounds,  at  maturity,  and  have  known 
young  cocks,  less  than  six  months  old,  to  weigh  eleven  pounds  and 
upwards,  and  I  raised  two  pullets  that  weighed  twenty  pounds  and  a 
quarter.  My  neighbor  had  one  that  weighed  ten  pounds  and  a  quar- 
ter, which  made  the  three  thirty  pounds  and  a  half. 

This  is  no  more  than  their  average,  and  they  arrive  at  maturity 
earlier  than  any  large  fowl  I  have  ever  seen.  I  have  known  pullets 
to  lay  some  days  less  than  four  months  old.  The  color  of  the  cocks  of 
the  original  stock  was  dark-red  ;  the  hens  were  a  liver-color  ;  some  of 
them  had  pea-combs — legs,  green.  They  are  now  mostly  of  the 
thrush-color. 

They  were  imported  from  some  part  of  China,  what  part  I  do  not 
know.  Their  laying  properties  are  good.  I  have  known  pullets  to 
lay  from  75  to  85  eggs  to  a  litter,  missing  but  few  days  in  the  time, 
and  to  commence  a  new  litter  within  eight  days. 

Mr.  Wood,  of  Providence,  owned  nine  pullets,  of  the  Palmer  im- 
portation, that  averaged  more  than  nine  pounds  and  a  half  apiece. 

S.  H.  AUSTIN, 

Great  Falls,  N.  H. 

Dr.  McClintock  Las  some  fine  specimens  of  both  the  "  Per- 
ley  "  and  "Palmer  "  importations,  said  to  be  magnificent  fowls, 
portraits  of  which  have  been  taken  by  an  artist  of  distinction 
in  Philadelphia,  and  sent  to  me  for  insertion,  as  follows  : 


62 


6HANGHAE    FOWLS. 


DR.    M'CLINTOCK'S    PERLEY    BHANGHAES. 

Dr.  McClintock  writes  that  his  "Perley"  rooster  weighs  ten 
pounds,  fifteen  ounces ;  eight  months  old ;  height,  thirty  and 
three-quarter  inches.  Hen,  eight  pounds  and  a  half ;  eighteen 
months  old. 


SHANGHAE    FOWLS. 


63 


DR.    M'OLINTOOK'S    PALMER    SHANGHAES. 

The  cock  here  portrayed  weighs  nine  pounds  and  three- 
quarters  ;  six  months  old.  Pullet,  eight  pounds  and  three- 
quarters,  full ;  nine  months  old.  Both  breeds  were  furnished 
to  Dr.  McClintock  by  Dr.  Bennett,  from  his  splendid  stock. 


6HANGHAE    FOWLS. 


w.    c.    HUDMAN'S    SHANGHAES. 

The  cock  here  represented  is  said  to  stand  thirty  and  a  half 
inches  high ;  weight,  eleven  pounds ;  age,  sixteen  months. 
Pullet,  weight,  nine  pounds  ;  age,  nine  months. 


BHANGHAE    FOWLS.  65 

Dr.  McClintock  writes  me  as  follows : 

On  the  8tli  insi,  my  freind,  Wm.  C.  Kudman,  Esq.,  of  thig  city,  121 
Green  street,  received  a  cock  and  two  hens,  direct  from  Shanghae, 
China,  which  port  they  left  about  the  15th  of  October,  1852.  They 
are  a  trio  of  the  most  beautiful  and  perfectly  symmetrical  fowls  I 
have  ever  seen.  The  cock,  which  appears  to  be  about  sixteen  months 
old,  stands  thirty  inches  high,  and  carries  himself  erectty"and  proudly. 
He  weighs  eleven  pounds ;  his  head  is  small ;  comb,  single,  and  well 
serrated ;  beak,  short  and  strongly  formed ;  eyes,  bright  and  spark- 
ling ;  neck,  beautifully  made,  and  covered  with  feathers  of  a  golden 
hue ;  body  feathers  of  a  brilliant  reddish  color ;  tail,  small,  and  the 
feathers  mostly  black.  He  is  very  broad  across  the  back,  and  com- 
pactly built ;  his  legs  are  thick,  strong,  and  relatively  short ;  they 
are  lemon-colorod,  and  well  feathered ;  he  walks  strongly  and  firmly, 
and  with  a  majesty  rarely  equaled. 

The  hens,  which  appear  to  be  about  nine  months  old,  weigh  eighteen 
pounds  full ;  they  are  most  perfectly  formed,  with  small  heads,  short 
beaks,  bright,  sparkling  eyes,  and  small  combs.  One  is  of  a  cinnamon 
buff-color,  the  other  is  of  somewhat  lighter  hue ;  the  feathers  on  each 
are  of  almost  uniform  shade ;  the  under  surface  of  the  body,  rump 
and  thighs,  are  well  covered  with  soft,  downy  feathers ;  the  legs  are 
lemon-colored,  strong  and  well  feathered.  Their  cai'riage  is  erect  and 
dignified,  and  altogether  they  are  most  admirable  birds.  The  cut  will 
give  a  very  good  idea  of  the  hen,  but  the  cock  does  not  appear  as  tall 
as  he  really  is. 

Yours  truly,  JAMBS  MCCLINTOCK:. 

Philadelphia,  Feb.  20th,  1853. 

P.  S.  Since  the  foregoing  was  written,  Mr.  Rudman  has  increased 
his  stock  of  imported  SShanghaes  by  the  addition  of  six  very  fine  hens, 
which  came  out  in  the  same  ship  with  the  cock  and  two  hens  previously 
described.  To-day  I  received,  per  ship  Horatio,  direct  from  Shanghae, 
a  trio  of  most  beautiful  fowls.  The  cock  is  of  bright  reddish  and 
golden  hue  ;  he  appeal's  to  be  about  ten  months  old ;  weighs  over  ten 
pounds ;  stands  thirty-one  inches.  The  hens  are  remarkably  good ; 
of  a  buff-color,  some  of  the  feathers  slightly  penciled  with  black ; 
they  weigh  about  seventeen  pounds  and  a  half,  although  they  seem  to 
have  been  rather  badly  fed  lately.  The  three  have  feathered,  yellow 

J.  MoC. 


66 


BHANG HAE    FOWLS. 


RED      SH  AN  GH  AES. 

The  abo\e  cut  represents  a  group  of  fine  red  Shanghaes, 
bred  by  Jno.  Fussel,  Esq.,  of  Mass.  The  general  character  of 
these  fowls  is  the  same  as  that  of  all  good,  colored  Shanghaes, 
and  consequently  they  require  no  further  description. 

Since  the  foregoing  matter  was  written  on  the  "  Palmer," 
"  Perley,"  and  other  importations  of  Shanghaes,  I  have  received 
the  following  further  descriptions,  from  Dr.  Bennett,  now  of 
Fort  des  Moines,  Iowa : 

"PALMER'S  IMPORTATION. — This  is  the  largest  pure  stock  ever  yet 
imported,  from  Shanghae.  The  cocks  will  weigh  thirteen  pounds, 
and  the  hens  eleven  pounds,  at  maturity,  and  occasionally  they  will 
exceed  these  weights.  My  friend,  Solomon  II.  Austin,  Esq.,  has  pro- 


SHANGHAE   FOWLS.  6*7 

duced  chickens  of  this  stock,  which,  at  six  months  old,  weigh  eleven, 
pounds  and  a  half,  cocks,  and  ten  pounds,  the  pullets,  each.  The  plu- 
mage of  this  stock  is  of  a  dark-mahogany  color,  very  rich  and  beau- 
tiful. They  have  all  the  marks  of  the  best  of  the  Shanghae  race — 
comb,  single  and  serrated,  though  occasionally  they  have  the  pea- 
comb,  wattles  ordinary  size,  wings  and  tail  short,  legs  heavily  feathered, 
etc.,  etc. ;  but  in  the  color  of  their  legs  they  differ  from  their  race, 
frequently  having  dark  or  greenish  legs.  Their  eggs  are  very  large, 
and  they  are  equally  prolific  with  other  Shanghaes.  A  cross  between 
the  Palmer  and  the  Perley  Shanghaes,  was  called  '  Cochin  China,'  at 
the  last  fair  (1852,)  of  the  '  New  England  Society  for  the  Improvement 
of  Domestic  Poultry,'  and  took  the  first  premium  as  such !  but  I  desire 
to  be  henceforth  delivered  from  all  CROSSES  of  fowls  whatever. 

"  FORBES'  IMPORTATION. — This  excellent  variety  is  known  as  the  fawn- 
colored,  or  buff  Shanghaes.  The  body  is  buff,  the  neck  yellow,  the 
back  slightly  penciled  with  light  brown,  of  the  hens ;  and  the  cocks 
are  usually  of  a  redish-dominique.  They  have  all  the  other  marks 
of  the  best  Shanghaes.  The  cocks  average  from  eight  to  ten  pounds, 
and  the  hens  from  seven  to  eight  pounds,  at  maturity,  or  at  two  to 
three  years  old.  Though  the  eggs  are  rather  smal],  the  fowls  are  very 
prolific,  and  are  greatly  admired  for  their  beauty. 

"FULLER'S  IMPORTATION. — These  magnificent  fowls  are  known  to 
novitiates  as  the  'Marsh  stock,'  and  are  fully  described  under  the 
head  of  'Imperial  Chinese  Fowls,' with  the  single  exception  of  the 
beautiful  penciling  of  each  feather,  as  with  the  touch  of  the  most 
exquisite  master.  The  dark  or  green-legged  fowls  of  this  stock,  are 
decidedly  the  best,  being  of  greater  specific  gravity,  of  larger  actual 
size,  and  more  prolific.  I  now  speak  of  the  best  importation  of  this 
stock— that  of  1848. 

"  PERLEY'S  IMPORTATION. — These  birds  are  of  a  very  bright  yellow, 
with  black  tails,  and  neck  penciled  with  black.  They  are  of  a  very 
uniform  color,  and  of  greater  specific  gravity  than  any  of  the  Shanghae 
race,  though  they  are  not  quite  equal  in  actual  size  to  some  of  the 
other  varieties.  The  cocks  will  weigh  from  seven  to  nine  pounds,  and 
the  hens  from  six  to  eight  pounds,  at  maturity.  They  lay  a  much 
larger  egg  than  the  buff  Shanghaes,  and  are  not  near  so  feathery. 
The  hens  of  this  breed  are  the  handsomest  of  any  of  the  Shanghaes. 

"PACKARD'S  IMPORTATION. — These  birds  are  perfectly  black,  though 
the  cocks  usually  have  some  chesnut  color  mixed  with  red.  Other- 
wise they  resemble  the  'Forbes'  Importation'  They  are  very  handsome, 
and  are  much  sought  for. 

"WHITE'S  IMPORTATION. — These  are  the  famous  'grey  Shanghaes,' 
but  more  properly  of  a  dominique,  or  owl-color.  They  are  not  the 
Brahma  Pootras,  by  any  manner  of  means,  but  are  uniformly  of  a 
grey  or  dominique  color,  all  over.  They  are  fine  looking  birds,  and 
have  the  usual  marks  of  Shanghaes. 

"  WIGHT'S  IMPORTATION. — This  breed  is  perfectly  white  in  plumage, 
both  cocks  and  hens,  and  are  very  superior  birds  in  every  respe«t. 
'  They  exactly  resemble  the  black  Shanghaes,  with  the  exception  of 
color." 


68 


fiHANGHAE    FOWLS. 


DE      GRUY'S     SHANGHAES. 

A.  Verloin  De  Gruy,  Esq.,  of  the  firm  of  H.  Tete  &  Co., 
Commission  Merchants,  No.  28  Conti  st.,  New  Orleans,  to  whom, 
as  a  celebrated  importer  and  breeder  of  fowls,  I  have  previously 
alluded,  owns  the  fowls  of  which  the  above  cut  is  a  true  repre- 
sentation from  life.  My  New  Orleans  correspondents  who  have 
seen  these  fowls,  and  others  belonging  to  this  gentleman,  are 
rapturous  in  praises  of  them,  and  I  have  no  doubt  that  he  has, 
as  it  is  said,  the  most  magnificent  collection  south  of  Mason  & 
Dixon's  line,  the  Potomac.  I  make  the  following  extract  from 
a  letter  from  Dr.  Bennett : 

"  DE  GRUY'S  IMPORTATION. — This  is  one  of  the  very  best  importations 


SHANGHAE    FOWLS.  69 

ever  made.  The  imported  cock  weighs  twelve  pounds  and  a  quarter, 
and  the  hen  eight  pounds,  though  she  is  yet  young,  and  has  not 
near  attained  her  full  size.  The  color  is  a  bright  yellow,  and  the  birds 
have  all  the  usual  characteristics  of  the  best  blooded  Shanghaes.  I 
think  them  equal  to  any  I  have  ever  seen.  Mr.  De  Gruy,  in  a  letter 
to  me,  of  the  10th  of  December,  1852,  in  speaking  of  these  fowls, 
Bays :  '  I  consider  them  extraordiuny  birds,  and  the  finest,  largest,  and 
best  ones  in  America.'  They  are  larger  than  Brown's  Importation,  but 
resemble  them  in  color." 


70 


SHANGHAE    FOWLS. 


MR.     D.      P.      NEWELL'9     WHITE      SHANGHAE. 

The  above  cut  was  engraved  for  the  Northern  Farmer  and 
this  work.  It  looms  up  rather  tall,  but  the  reader  must  not 
judge  of  the  size  of  the  fowl  by  the  comparative  size  of  the 
cut. 


6HANGHAE    FOWLS. 


71 


Mr.  Newell  writes  as  follows : 


"This  cut  is  a  fac- simile  of  my  white  Shanghae  cockerel,  which 
was  drawn  from  lite,  and  is  a  noble  specimen  of  the  Shanghae  variety. 
In  fact,  I  have  never  seen  his  equal.  I  obtained  him,  with  some  fine 
hens,  from  Mr.  Smith,  of  Mass.,  who  took  the  premium  at  the  late 
exhibition  of  poultry  in  Boston.  I  have  also  Dr.  Wight's  importation 
of  1850;  and  I  shall  not  have  to  breed  in-and-in,  a  system  that  ought 
to  be  condemned  by  every  one  who  raises  fowls.  I  have  been  to  the 
trouble  and  expense  of  obtaining  these  two  different  importations,  so 
that  my  fowls,  which  I  breed  from,  will  not  be  in  the  least  related ; 
and  I  shall  be  able  to  produce  larger  and  better  fowls  than  those  who 
have  the  cock  and  hen  from  the  same  brood. 

"Dr.  E.  Wight  (and  there  is  no  better  authority,)  remarks,  that 
'  the  white  Shanghaes  are  larger  and  more  quiet  than  other  varieties. 
The  flesh  of  these  fowls  is  much  superior,  not  sinewy  or  stringy,  as  is 
the  case  with  the  flesh  of  other  Shanghaes.  The  eggs  are  larger,  and 
the  hens  are  more  prolific  than  those  of  other  colors,  and  in  their 
habits,  they  are  less  inclined  to  ramble.'  " 


DR.   EBEN   WIGHTS   WHITE   SHANGHAES 


Y2  SHANGHAE    FOWLS. 

The  last  named  fowls  are  identical  with  the  breed,  as  reared 
by  Mr.  Newell. 

They  are  generally  heavily  feathered  on  the  legs,  are  purely 
white,  and  partake  of  the  characteristics  of  the  colored  Shang- 
haes.  It  is  a  generally  admitted  fact,  that  every  species  of 
animate  nature  of  a  pure  white,  is  less  hardy  than  those  of 
other  colors,  but  Mr.  White,  of  the  firm  of  Parker  &  White, 
Boston,  who  is  a  fowl  fancier,  states  in  the  "  Poultry  Book," 
as  follows :  "  It  will  not  perhaps,  be  out  of  place  to  say,  that 
notwithstanding  the  popular  opinion,  that  a  white  fowl  is  more 
delicate  than  a  colored  one,  I  have  found  the  white  Shanghaes 
very  hardy." 

The  following  communication  is  quite  interesting : 

Dear  Sir, — Coincidences  are  sometimes  singularly  remarkable.  I 
was  just  on  the  point  of  assuming  my  pen  to  acknowledge  your  kind 
favor  of  some  few  weeks  since,  when  the  Northern  Farmer  was  put 
into  my  hand.  It  was  as  much  as  to  say,  "  I  shall  be  happy  to  hear 
from  you."  At  the  same  time,  my  old  white  Shanghae  rooster  gave  a 
loud  and  sonorous  crow,  as  though  he  would  say,  "  bear  my  respects 
to  the  gentleman,  and  tell  him  to  beat  tMfct  if  he  can." 

Under  these  circumstances,  I  cannot  withhold  my  pen,  but  true  to 
the  monitory  sign,  will  speak  a  kind  word  in  behalf  of  the  noble 
chanticleer  and  his  numerous  family.  This  splendid  bird  is  now 
eighteen  months  old,  of  the  whitest  and  most  beautiful  plumage  that 
ever  adorned  any  of  his  race.  He  will  stand  by  the  side  of  a  common 
flour  barrel,  and  with  great  ease  eat  from  the  top  of  it.  He  has 
graced  two  exhibitions  in  this  neighborhood,  and  refused  to  be  sold, 
even  at  the  price  of  $25.  Were  I  a  good  draughtsman,  you  should 
have  him,  without  cost,  to  adorn  your  publication ;  you  should  then 
see  him  to  the  life,  with  his  keen  eye  and  towering  comb,  nothing 
afraid  to  meet  Johnny  Dorking  or  any  of  his  race.  This  is  the  only 
way  in  which  I  could  consent  to  part  with  him. 

My  estimation  of  this  breed  of  fowls  has  been  in  no  wise  diminished 
since  I  last  wrote  you,  and  though  I  am  not  disposed  to  lessen  in  any 
degree  the  value  of  other  fowls  of  good  breed,  yet  my  firm  conviction 
is,  that  the  white  Shanghae  breed  of  fowls  will,  when  better  known, 
be  the  fowl  that  will  bear  the  palm  from  every  other.  They  lay  eggs 
of  a  large  size,  and  of  a  very  rich  quality.  The  rearing  of  their 
young  is  attended  with  very  little  trouble.  One  hen  will  give  you, 
(generally  speaking,)  three  broods  of  chickens  in  one  season.  And 
for  table  use,  it  may  well  be  doubted  if  there  be  any  fowl  extant,  (not 
excepting  the  Dorking,)  that  can  vie  with  them  in  point  of  excellency. 

By  your  publication,  it  is  evident  that  some  intend  to  make  the 
Dorking  fowl  stand  No.  1.  This  is  all  very  well,  for  this  reason, 
that  it  is  more  generally  known  than  some  others  of  the  high  class 
fowls.  It  is  with  me  a  favorite  fowl — one  that  is  justly  highly  valued ; 
it  is  one  of  the  very  best  breed  of  fowls ;  but  the  white  Shanghae,  in 
my  humble  opinion,  is  still  better.  No  such  success  has  ever  attended 


SHANGHAE    FOWLS.  73 

my  efforts  in  the  rearing  of  the  Dorking  fowls,  as  in  those  of  the 
white  Shanghaes.  A  gentleman  of  considerable  experience,  who  has 
tested,  as  he  thinks,  thoroughly,  the  value  of  these  two  breeds,  informs 
me,  that  he  is  so  well  convinced  of  the  superiority  of  the  white 
Shanghae  over  every  o-thez-,  that  he  intends  now  to  confine  his  atten- 
tion solely  to  this  breed. 

I  have  sent  a  number  of  this  breed  to  the  south  and  west,  and 
nearly  all  who  have  written  me  on  the  subject,  have  expressed  their 
unqualified  approbation  of  the  beauty  and  excellency  of  these  fowls. 
A  gentleman  in  this  neighborhood,  who  obtained  a  pair,  informed  me 
a  few  days  since,  that  for  the  last  six  months,  the  hen  had  given  him 
an  egg  almost  daily,  with  the  exception  of  a  few  days,  when  she 
wanted  to  «it ;  he  would  then  confine  her  for  a  short  time,  when,  true 
to  the  mark,  she  again  commenced  her  daily  performance  of  duty. 

There  has  been  a  disposition  on  the  part  of  some,  to  cry  down  the 
imported  breed  of  fowls ;  and  they  have  gone  so  far  as  to  state,  that 
our  native  breeds  are  superior  in  almost  every  respect.  You  hear  the 
terms  humbuggery,  yankee  notions,  and  such  kinds  of  slang,  freely  used. 
How  little  do  such  persons  reflect,  that  such  a  course  would  preclude 
every  improvement,  and  check  the  spirit  of  enterprise  in  every  thing 
else.  The  truth  is,  that  hundreds  of  fowls  have  been  sold  in  our  mar- 
ket, under  the  name  of  Shanghae,  Cochin  China,  &c.,  which  have 
scarcely  any  more  relation  to  these  fowls,  than  a  turkey-buzzard  ;  and 
because  from  such  a  worthless  stock,  nothing  but  disappointment  could 
proceed,  the  full-blooded  importation  has  been  regarded  as  worthless 
fowls.  Shall  we  look  to  such  persons  for  testimony  ?  Ought  their 
declaration  to  have  weight  with  men  of  candor  and  judgment  ?  I 
hesitate  not  to  say,  there  is  no  humbuggery  in  the  full-blooded  impor- 
tations. If  the  experience  of  two  years  is  worth  anything,  I  am  plain 
to  declare,  that  they  are  a  hardier  fowl,  better  layers,  and  better  for 
the  table,  than  our  native  breeds,  and  that  it  costs  no  more  to  keep 
them  than  common  fowls.  Such  has  been  my  experience,  be  it  worth 
more  or  less. 

It  is  a  good  thing  that  you  have  opened  the  columns  of  your  paper 
to  this  subject.  It  matters  not  whose  opinion  is  crossed,  so  that  truth 
only  have  fair  play.  If  the  Dorking  fowl,  or  any  other,  can  be  proved 
to  be  superior  to  the  white  Shanghae — if  even  the  native  breeds,  (as 
some  assert,)  can  be  proved  more  excellent  than  the  imported — then 
will  we  bow  with  deference  to  superior  judgment,  and  bid  our 
favorite  chanticleer  shut  up  his  mouth  and  crow  no  more. 

There  is  a  question  of  some  importance  which  occurs  to  me,  viz  ' 
how  far  the  diversity  of  climate  may  operate  in  reference  to  our 
imported  fowls.  A  gentleman  of  New  England,  now  present  with 
me,  remarks,  in  reference  to  the  white  Shanghaes,  that  he  has  never 
seen  any  fowls  of  this  kind  equal  to  my  stock,  although  he  has 
attended  all  the  poultry  fairs  in  New  England,  and  is  well  acquainted 
with  Dr.  Wight,  and  other  gentlemen,  who  have  these  fowls.  He  waa 
much  astonished  to  see  how  greatly  the  superiority  of  the  progeny  had 
exceeded  the  parent  stock  which  was  sent  me  from  New  England.  To 
what  can  we  attribute  this  but  to  the  difference  of  climate  ?  May  not 
our  climate  in  Pennsylvania  be  better  adapted  to  this  class  of  fowla 
4 


74  BHANGHAE    JTOWL3. 

than  the  more  rigorous  climate  of  New  England  ?  It  is  here  thought 
with  regard  to  the  native  breeds,  that  our  Pennsylvania  fowls  exceed 
in  size  and  excellency,  all  others.  I  pretend  not  to  throw  out  conjec- 
tures, but  to  state  facts,  and  leave  you  to  form  your  own  conclusions. 
That  some  fowls  are  better  adapted  to  some  climates  than  others,  and 
their  qualities  more  freely  developed,  is  a  fact  that  will  not,  I  think, 
bo  disputed. 

There  is  another  question  to  which  I  would  direct  your  attention, 
viz:  Have  we,  in  this  country,  the  pure  Cochin  China  fowl?  There 
are  some  writers  who  assert  that  we  have  not,  while  others  assert  to 
the  contrary.  I  hope  you  will  be  able  to  throw  some  light  on  thia 
vexed  question,  in  your  new  work.  Some  of  my  white  fowls  I  have 
been  in  the  habit  of  terming  the  white  Cochin  China,  for  the  reason 
that  many  have  made  a  distinction  between  those  fowls  that  are  feath- 
ered on  the  leg,  and  those  which  are  not ;  the  latter  being  termed  the 
Cochin  China.  There  is  a  great  difference  in  the  color  of  the  egg ;  in 
this  latter  class,  they  are  of  a  brown  or  chocolate  shade.  An  English 
g.entleman  who  lately  visited  my  poultry  yard,  on  examining  these 
eggs,  observed,  that  they  were  exactly  similar  to  those  of  the  cele- 
brated Cochin  Chinas  belonging  to  Queen  Victoria,  and  that  the  dark 
or  purple  spots,  generally  seen  on  the  eggs,  were  considered  indicative 
of  the  purity  of  the  breed,  as  also  of  high  qualities  of  the  fowL 

I  have  several  pairs  of  the  "Bailey"  and  "Parsons"  imported 
Shanghaes  ;  they  are  considered  far  superior  to  the  Forbes  and  Marsh 
stock,  although  they  never  attain  to  the  size  of  the  latter.  They  are 
most  excellent  layers,  and  very  superior  for  the  table.  They  are  worth 
from  $6  to  $8  per  pair.  I  have  disposed  of  several  of  the  white 
Shanghae  fowls,  but  have  never  sold  any  for  less  than  $15  the  pair. 
Yours  truly, 

SAMUEL  A.  BUMSTEAD. 

In  the  above  communication,  Mr.  Bumstead  alludes  to  a 
white  fowl,  bred  in  Pennsylvania,  resembling  the  white 
Shanghaes,  which  he  calls  white  "  Cochin  China  "  fowls.  As 
there  is  no  such  breed  known  among  the  New  England  fanciers, 
and  in  fact,  none  existing  anywhere,  that  can  properly  be  thus 
named,  it  is  safe  to  say  that  the  name  is  incorrect.  Mr.  B. 
writes  further,  as  follows  : 

But  while  much  has  been  written  favorably,  concerning  the  quali- 
ties of  these  fowls,  yet  none  that  I  have  met  with  have  alluded  to  the 
difference  existing  between  the  white  Cochin  China  and  the  white 
Shanghae,  seeming  rather  to  class  these  two  kinds  under  that  of  the 
latter,  whereas  there  is  in  some  respects  a  difference.  Those  of  the 
white  Cochin  China  breed,  lay  a  much  browner-colored  egg  than  the 
former,  and  their  wings  are  much  smaller  and  higher  up  on  the  body. 
The  male  bird  of  the  Cochin  China  has  also  the  power  of  doubling  his 
wings,  which  is  not  the  case  with  that  of  the  white  Shanghae. 

Some  have  denied  this  peculiarity  as  belonging  to  this  fowl,  stating 
fliat  there  is  no  double  joint  in  the  wing,  which  gives  the  bird  tho 


SHAXGIIAE    FOWLS.  75 

property  of  underlapping  the  posterior  portion  of  the  wing.  Let  this 
DC  true  or  not,  there  is  in  the  Cochin  China  which  I  possess,  a  peculiar 
propensity  to  do  this,  which  does  not  exist  in  any  other  fowl  that  1  have 
seen  or  heard  of.  1  have  two  very  fine  Chinese  crowers,  perfectly  white, 
and  seemingly  uniform  in  their  general  qualities,  yet  it  is  impossible 
to  look  at  these  fowls  in  a  hot  summer  day,  without  noticing  this  pe- 
culiarity, which  thus  distinguishes  the  white  Cochin  Chirm.  I  have 
seen  this  bird  for  hours,  with  hia  wing  thus  doubled  up,  as  if  to  enjoy 
the  influence  of  a  passing  breeze.  This  has  not  been  noticed  in  the 
white  Shanghae,  One  writer  asserts,  that  this  is  peculiar  to  the  bird 
only  in  winter,  and  for  the  purpose  of  securing  warmth,  whereas,  in  my 
fowls,  it  is  more  particularly  noticeable  in  summer,  and,  as  I  conceive, 
for  the  purpose  of  avoiding  the  heat. 

Apart  from  all  this,  what  has  been  written  on  the  value  of  these 
fowls,  we  may  receive  as  correct.  No  one  who  has  had  trial  of  this 
breed,  can  speak  too  highly  in  their  commendation;  and  I  feel  per- 
suaded, that  when  they  become  generally  known,  they  will  become 
the  favorite  fowl  of  all  others. 

In  answer  to  your  inquiry  respecting  the  price  of  fowls,  I  would 
state,  that  the  white  Shanghae  and  white  Cochin  China,  are  worth 
$15  the  pair ;  their  eggs  have  been  sold  for  $4  per  dozen. 

With  the  knowledge  I  possess  of  their  good  qualities,  I  would 
cheerfully  give  $25,  if  they  could  not  otherwise  be  obtained.  There 
are  but  very  few  of  this  breed  in  this  section  of  country.  In  New 
England,  they  still  command  a  good  price,  and  no  doubt  will  for  some 
time  to  come.  The  brown  Shanghaes  are  not  much  known  in  this 
neighborhood,  but  an  interest  is  now  being  excited  on  the  subject, 
which  will  soon  call  them  into  general  notice.  There  are  many  fowls 
that  pass  under  that  name,  as  1  have  seen  in  our  markets,  and  at  some 
of  our  fairs,  which  might  as  well  go  under  any  other  name. 

With  regard  to  the  Dorking  fowl,  I  can  say  but  little.  I  know  of 
no  one  around  me  that  has  the  pure  breed.  What  generally  passes 
for  the  Dorking  in  this  section  of  country,  is,  in  the  opinion  01  good 
judges  a  mongrel  breed. 

I  have  a  splendid  fowl  of  the  black  Shanghae  variety,  which  I 
regard  highly.  They  are  heavily  feathered  on  the  legs,  and  some 
have  five  toes.  They  lay  a  very  brown  ogg,  and  are  most  excellent 
nurses  to  the  young  chicks.  They  are  a  noble  fowl. 

S.  A.  B. 


76 


SHANGHAI    FOWL6. 


WHITE      SIIANGHAE      COCK. 

Dear  Sir, — Tne  cuts  representing  the  white  Slmngb.no  fowls,  which 
I  send  you,  were  drawn  before  they  had  attained  their  full  size,  and 
consequently  are  not  so  perfect,  in  some  respects,  as  if  taken  at  a  later 
period  ;  but  it  is  a  fair  representation,  being  a  little  below,  rather  than 
above  their  real  appearance,  which  I  do  not  regret.  They  are  large 
and  compact,  perfectly  white,  with  yellow  legs,  very  docile  when  well 
treated,  lively,  exceedingly  healthy,  very  handsome,  and  noble-look- 
ing. I  have  never  known  them  to  fight,  unless  provoked  in  some 
way,  when  they  battle  with  a  good  share  of  energy.  As  we  judge  of 
value  by  comparison,  I  will  state,  that  I  have  tried  many  of  the  breeds 
now  in  vogue,  including  the  black  Spanish,  red  and  "buff  Slmnghnes, 


SHANGHAE    FOWLS. 


77 


WHITE      SHANGHAE      HEN. 

Cochin  Chinas,  and  a  number  of  others,  too  numerous  to  mention.  I 
am  well  aware,  that  the  dark-colored  Chinese  fowls  have  had,  and 
still  hold,  to  a  great  extent,  the  reputation  of  being  the  largest  and 
best ;  but  on  a  fair  trial,  all  being  kept  in  the  same  coops  together, 
from  first-  to  last,  the  result  was  in  favor  of  the  white  Shanghaes, 
somewhat  contrary  to  my  expectations.  Their  growth  is  slower  than 
many  other  breeds,  not  reaching  their  full  size  until  the  second  year,  and 
generally  weighing,  at  the  expiration  of  the  first,  about  two-thirds 
as  much  as  when  fully  grown.  To  enable  you  to  imagine  how  the 
chickens  look,  I  weighed  a  number  this  morning,  being  just  six  months 
since  they  were  hatched.  The  cocks  drew  seven  pounds,  the  pullets 
Jive  pounds  and  six  ounces.  There  may  be,  and  no  doubt  are,  many 
other  fowls,  larger  at  this  age ;  but  these,  when  grown,  will  weigh 
•from  eighteen  to  twenty  pounds  per  pair.  This  is  speaking  within 
bounds.  As  regards  their  laying,  I  have  pullets  (in  fact,  all  I  have  of 
this  breed,)  that  have  laid  constantly,  from  the  first  of  last  February, 
until  the  present  time.  The  inclination  to  lay  commences  when  from 
six  to  seven  months  old.  If  for  no  other  motive,  I  should  keep  a  few 
of  this  breed  for  sitters  and  nurses,  for,  in  my  estimation,  it  would 
be  far  better  than  to  employ  any  others,  if  we  except  the  Dorking. 


78  6UANGHAE    FOWLS. 

"When  I  wish  to  "  set  a  clutch  of  eggs,"  I  proceed  to  the  poultry  house, 
take  one  that  "  has  the  fever  on,"  place  her  on  the  nest,  provide  her 
with  corn  and  water,  note  the  time,  and  as  there  is  not  the  least  dis- 
position to  "flare  up"  under  this  treatment,  if  placed  in  a  new  loca- 
tion, it  is  not  necessary  to  give  her  any  more  of  your  time  or 
attention.  To  break  up  the  inclination  for  incubating,  shut  the  fowl 
up  in  a  dark  place,  with  a  sparing  diet  of  corn,  but  plenty  of  water, 
for  a  few  days,  when  the  fever  will  abate,  and  she  will  commence 
laying.  For  the  table,  if  well  fatted,  when  about  ten  or  twelve 
months  old,  those  competent  to  judge,  pronounce  the  flesh  of  these 
fowls  very  fine  ;  but,  like  many  others  of  the  Chinese  race,  if  killed 
when  too  young,  will  be  found  "dry  and  stringy,"  it  being  hard  to 
make  them  fat  when  very  young.  The  game  fowls  will  "  flesh  up  " 
at  almost  any  age.  For  this  information,  I  am  indebted  to  others,  as 
I  am  no  fancier  of  flesh  in  any  form.  For  feed,  give  millet  and  wheat ; 
when  very  young,  dry  rice,  with  crumbs  of  bread,  and  cooked  beef, 
or  angle  worms.  Laying  hens  do  better  on  wheat,  as  it  affords  suffi- 
cient nutriment,  and  will  not  incline  them  to  fatten.  Millet  is  very 
good  for  growing  chicks,  as  it  has  a  beneficial  effect  on  the  feathering. 
Burnt  oyster  shells  will  be  eaten  at  almost  any  period,  but  particularly 
when  laying.  Some  writers  object  to  the  use  of  Cayenne  pepper, 
others  recommend  a  judicious  use  of  it.  One  fact  is  certain,  fowls 
running  at  large  will  devour  green  peppers,  when  found  within  their 
reach ;  from  this  we  infer,  that  it  is  a  natural  desire  on  their  part  to 
eat  vegetables  of  this  class.  On  trial,  I  have  found  it  to  prove  very 
beneficial,  in  all  cases.  You  will  undoubtedly  receive  contributions 
from  others,  respecting  this  breed  of  fowls,  and  a  short  explanation 
will  be  due  to  you  and  your  readers.  Those  in  my  possession  were 
bred  from  the  first  progeny  of  one  importation,  united  with  a  cock  of 
this  year's  import,  gaining  by  this,  an  improvement  in  size  and  model, 
and  being  entirely  free  from  the  clumsy  gait  of  many  others,  an 
objection  that  I  have  removed.  .As  this  communication  is  now  some- 
what longer,  than  I  at  first  intended  it  to  be,  it  will  be  necessary  for 
me  to  draw  it  to  a  close  very  soon,  but  I  cannot  do  so  without  giving 
due  credit  to  the  gentleman  who  imported  the  stock  from  which 
those  in  my  possession  were  bred,  as  I  know  Dr.  Wight  to  be  a  fowl 
fancier  of  the  first  order,  and  one  that  pursues  it  for  the  sake  of 
science,  rather  than  for  the  profit  he  might  gain  by  it,  if  he  were  so 
disposed.  Hoping  this  sketch  of  the  management  and  peculiarities  of 
the  above  mentioned  breed,  will  be  of  service  to  you  in  making  up 
your  forthcoming  work  on  poultry,  and  promising  to  communicate  for 
your  periodical,  the  result  of  many  experiments  in  breeding  I  now 
have  under  way,  and  many  I  intend  to  try  as  soon  as  time  will  permit, 
I  am  respectfully  yours,  in  the  cause 

of  this  branch  of  natural  science, 

JOSEPH    S.    HlLDRETH, 

No.  61  Court  st,  Boston. 
To  T.  B.  MIXER,  Esq. 


BHANGHAE    FOWLS. 


P.      MELLEXDYS      WHITE      SHANGHAE8. 

MOUNT  HEALTHY,  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio. 

This  fowl  is  entirely  white,  and  differs  in  no  material  respect  from 
the  red,  yellow,  and  dominique,  except  in  color.  They  are  broad  on 
the  back  and  breast,  with  a  body  well  rounded  up,  the  plumage  white, 
with  a  downy  softness — much  like  the  feathering  of  the  Bremen 
goose  in  this  respect ;  the  tail  feathers  short  and  full;  the  head  small, 
surmounted  by  a  small,  single,  serrated  comb ;  wattles  long  and  wide, 
overlaying  the  eheek-piece  ;  the  legs  are  of  a  yellow  hue,  approaching 
a  flesh-color,  and  featherless.  The  eggs  are  larger,  and  the  hens  more 
prolific  than  those  of  other  colors. 

P.  MELLENDT. 

This  breed  of  fowls  is  very  popular.  I  have  a  very  fine  pair, 
perhaps  the  best  in  the  State,  and  shall  have  a  few  pairs  to  dis- 
pose of  in  the  fall.  It  costs  no  more  to  keep  a  good  fowl  than 
a  poor  one,  and  the  original  cost  never  deters  me  from  procur- 
ing the  best  breeds  in  the  country  ;  and  if  I  have  an  indifferent 
breed,  that  I  cannot  truly  recommend,  they  go  into  the  pot, 
whatever  their  cost  may  have  been.  These  fowls  now  sell  at 
$10  a  pair,  for  good  specimens,  six  months  old,  and  eggs  from 
$3  to  $4  a  dozen.  I  refer  to  the  best  modeled  fowls.  There 
are  some  that  are  not  worthy  taking  as  a  gift. 


80 


COCHIN    CHINA    FOWLS. 


COCHIN      CHINA      FOWLS. 

This  drawing  represents  a  fine  group  of  domestic  fowls, 
known  as  the  "  Cochin  China  ;  "  a  race  of  birds  belonging  to 
the  great  tribe  of  Chinese,  or  Eastern  poultry,  and  comprised 
in  the  gallus  giyanteus  of  modern  ornithologists.  The  two 
samples  above  delineated,  were  selected  from  the  stock  of  Geo. 
P.  Burnham,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  Mass.,  who  has  imported  several 
lots  of  these  fowls  from  England  and  China,  and  were  drawn 
from  life,  and  engraved  accurately  from  the  originals. 

Notwithstanding  what  has  been  written  in  reference  to  this 
breed,  there  remains  little  doubt  in  the  minds  of  experienced 


COCHIN    CHINA    FOWLS.  81 

i 

breeders,  that  the  "  Cochin  China  "  (so  called,)  and  the  red 
"  Shanghae  "  fowl,  are  identical,  or  very  nearly  so — that  is,  that 
both  originate  from  the  same  parentage  in  China.  Some  of 
these — both  the  Cochin  and  the  Shanghae — are  smooth-legged, 
and  others  are  feathered  on  the  legs,  while  the  other  general 
characteristics  are  very  similar  in  both.  Be  this  as  it  may,  either 
of  these  breeds  when  well-selected  and  properly  cared  for,  is 
considered  by  many  as  good  enough  for  all  useful  purposes. 

The  following  general  remarks,  by  Mr.  Burnham,  describe 
his  imported  specimens — which  samples  are  adjudged  by  some 
of  our  best  breeders,  to  be  among  the  choicest  domestic  fowls 
in  America.  He  says  : 

"  A  variety  of  opinions  has  been  given,  and  a  great  difference  of 
opinion  still  exists,  among  fanciers,  in  regard  to  what  is,  really,  the 
true  '  Cochin  China'  fowl.  The  first  bird  of  this  noble  variety,  which 
the  public  were  ever  made  acquainted  with,  however,  were  those 
sent  to  Queen  Victoria,  a  few  years  ago,  as  a  present  from  China,  by 
one  of  her  foreign  ministers.  This  lot  comprised  two  cocks  and  four 
hens,  and  upon  their  arrival  in  England,  they  were  pronounced  '  most 
extraordinary  specimens  of  poultry.' 

"  An  illustration,  comprising  portraits  of  a  group  of  these  birds, 
Boon  afterwards  appeared  '  by  permission  of  the  Queen  '  in  the  '  Lon- 
don Illustrated  News ; '  and  these  birds  were  set  down,  at  once,  by  all 
who  saw  them,  and  who  were  at  all  acquainted  with  poultry,  as 
decidedly  the  finest  samples  of  domestic  fowls  ever  brought  into  Eng- 
land." 

A  pair  were  presented  to  Lord  Heytesbury  at  Dublin,  by  her 
Majesty,  and  afterwards  were  bred  by  Mr.  Xolan.  Mr.  Burn- 
ham  obtained  his  fowls  direct  from  that  gentleman,  at  a  high 
cost.  There  were  six  chickens  in  that  lot,  brought  over  to 
America  in  the  winter  of  '49  and  '50.  A  rooster  and  pullet 
of  this  importation  is  portrayed  in  the  preceding  cut,  which  was 
taken  from  life,  by  Mr.  Brown,  of  Boston,  soon  after  their  arrival 
in  America. 

These  fowls  were,  generally,  smooth-legged.  One  of  these 
imported  cocks  exhibited  a  very  slight  germ  of  feathering  upon 
the  leg — but  four-fifths  of  the  progeny  of  this  importation 
come  without  any  feathering  upon  the  legs.  Their  general 
color  is  a  rich,  glossy  brown  ;  the  comb  is  a  medium  size,  ser- 
rated, but  not  deeply  so,  and  the  wattles  are  double.  Besides 
their  size,  however,  these  fowls  possess  other  distinctive  charac- 
teristics. The  flesh  is  white  and  delicate.  The  eggs  laid  by 
the  hen  of  this  breed,  are  of  a  salmon,  and  sometimes  of  a 
chocolate  color,  and  possess  a  very  delicate  flavor. 
4*  * 


82  COCHIN    CHINA    FOWLS. 

The  Queen's  fowls,  said  to  be  received  from  Cochin  China, 
were  smooth-legged ;  but  of  a  subsequent  importation  by  Mr. 
Burnham,  direct  from  Canton,  five  were  smooth,  and  one  was 
feathered  on  the  legs.  These  last  fowls  proved  of  extraordinary 
weight  at  two  years  old  ;  and  up  to  this  time,  the  stock  has  been 
bred  together  by  Mr.  B.,  with  very  excellent  success.  In  the  past 
year's  product,  perhaps  one-fourth  of  all  the  chicks  show  more 
or  less  feathering  upon  the  legs,  though  Mr.  B.  selects  his  breed- 
ing stock,  invariably,  with  the  smooth  limb.  All  the  other 
characteristics  remain  unchanged  from  the  original,  in  this 
stock.  The  size,  color,  form,  invariable  single  comb,  and  aver- 
age weight — all,  are  like  the  parent  stock. 

The  full  grown  cocks  of  this  breed,  will  weigh,  at  twenty  to 
twenty-four  months  of  age,  from  nine  and  a  half  to  ten  and  a 
half  pounds;  the  hens,  at  the  same  age,  will  draw  seven  to 
eight  pounds ;  year  old  cocks  will  draw  eight  to  nine  pounds ; 
and  the  finest  year  old  pullets,  from  six  to  seven  pounds  each. 
This  is  the  extent  of  their  weights,  generally,  but  in  some  cases, 
they  exceed  these  weights. 

We  consider  these  fowls  to  be  a  good  breed,  but  not  equal  to 
some  other  kinds  now  among  us,  nor  are  they  selling  at  so  high 
rates  generally,  as  several  other  breeds  that  wTe  can  mention. 

Those  fanciers,  however,  who  desire  to  purchase  "Cochin 
China  "  fowls,  will  find  the  best  specimens  in  possession  of  Mr. 
Burnham,  who  has  probably  had  more  experience  in  raising  and 
dealing  in  this  breed,  than  any  other  person  in  this  country. 

Mr.  Burnham  is  correct  when  he  says,  that  there  is  a  differ- 
erence  of  opinion  among  fanciers,  in  regard  to  what  is  the  true 
Cochin  China  fowl.  The  following  communication  shows  that 
these  fowls  are  not  entitled  to  the  name  they  have  hitherto 
received : 

TAUNTOX,  March  20th,  1851. 

Dear  Sir,— I  believe  it  was  in  October,  1849,  that  I  sent  yon  some 
China  fowls,  which  were  erroneously  called  "  Cochin  China  " — biit 
their  true  name  was  Shanghae — and  they  never  should  have  had  any 
other  name,  as  that  was  their  native  place,  arid  so,  of  course,  should 
have  been  their  legitimate  name.  And  who  first  gave  the  name  o'f 
Cochin  China  to  this  particular  breed,  I  never  could  ascertain — neither 
could  I  arrest  its  progress  after  it  had  started. 

I  received  from  my  nephew,  Nicholas  Baylies,  in  July,  1846,  from 
Shanghae,  in  China,  two  pairs  of  fowls,  which  he  recommended  as  a 
superior  breed  for  the  table,  and  very  large.  Some  of  this  importa- 
tion were  sent  to  Plymouth,  and  about  Plymouth  county,  where  they 
were  well  received,  and  some  one  gave  them  the  imposing  name 


COCHIN    CHINA    FOWLS.  83 

of  Cochin  China.  I  had  heard  60  much  of  Cochin  China,  and  Royal 
Cochin  China,  that  I  took  pains,  in  February,  1850,  to  write  to  Nich- 
olas Baylies,  of  Shanghae,  China,  to  procure  a  pair  of  this  breed,  if 
they  were  superior  to  the  variety  that  he  had  already  sent  me.  And 
in  September,  1850,  I  received  his  answer,  to  this  effect — that  he  had 
a  friend  in  Cochin  China,  who  was  a  missionary,  and  from  him  he 
could  get  all  the  information  required. 

February  10th,  I  received  from  the  same  kind  friend,  a  beautiful  pair 
of  Shanghae  fowls,  the  cock  weighing  eight  and  a  half  pounds,  and 
the  hen  seven  pounds,  and  with  them  the  reply  to  his  inquiry,  from 
his  friend,  the  Rev.  "W.  Dean,  a  Baptist  Missionary,  which  is  as  follows : 

HONG  KOXG,  25th  Oct.,  1850. 

My  Dear  Mr.  Baylies, — I  have  just  returned  from  Siam  and  Cochin 
China,  bxit  in  answer  to  the  inquiry  of  your  note  of  July,  I  can  only 
state,  that  while  in  Cochin  China,  I  saw  the  fowls  in  the  market,  and 
in  the  villages,  and  we  bought  them  for  use  on  ship-board,  but  I  saw 
none  but  the  common  small  fowl,  and  none  to  be  compared  to  the 
Shanghae  fowl.  Neither  in  Cochin  China,  nor  Siam,  nor  elsewhere, 
have  I  seen  so  large  fowls  as  those  from  Shanghae,  neither  have  I 
heard  of  such,  at  any  other  place. 

As  I  have  twice  visited  Cochin  China,  and  been  in  their  markets 
and  villages,  I  think  I  am  safe  in  saying  that  they  have  not  the  large 
fowl  you  speak  of. 

I  am  happy  to  report  my  health  as  very  good,  and  have  had  a 
pleasant  visit  at  our  mission  station  in  Siam. 

With  kind  regards  to  Mrs.  Baylies, 

I  am  very  sincerely  yours. 

W.  DEAN. 

The  above  note  from  the  Rev.  Mr.  Dean,  puts  a  quietus  to  the 
"  Cochin  China  "  variety. 

I  am  well  satisfied  with  the  Shanghae  variety,  and  if  there  are 
larger  varieties,  there  are  none  better,  in  my  opinion,  than  the 
Shanghae.  They  certainly  improve  very  much  in  size  and  form  when 
bred  among  us,  from  those  imported ;  and  the  reason  is  obvious. 
Fowls  of  four  or  five  months  old,  put  on  board  of  ship  in  China,  and 
subjected  to  a  voyage  of  five  months,  with  scanty  fare,  and  cooped  up 
without  much  exercise,  must  of  necessity  get  sadly  cramped  in  form 
and  size — and  I  have  good  authority  for  such  opinion.  A  letter  from 
Nicholas  Baylies,  of  June,  1850,  says,  among  bis  fowls,  he  frequently 
has  chickens  of  seven  months  old,  that  stand  two  feet  ana  eight 
inches.  Allowing  this  to  be  truth,  which  I  doubt  not,  what  may  we 
not  expect  when  they  are  full  grown. 

Yours  respectfully, 

ALF.  BAYLIES. 

JosEph  A.  SAMPSON,  Esq.,  Boston. 

Thus  it  appears,  that  our  so-called  "  Cochin  China "  fowls, 
may  have  originated  in  the  vicinity  of  the  city  of  Shanghae,  or 
in  any  other  part  of  China,  except  "  Cochin  China"  Mr. 
Burnham  admits,  himself,  that  this  breed  is  identical  with  red 


84:  COCHIN    CHINA   FOWLS. 

Shanghaes,  and  in  truth,  they  all  ought  to  l>e  classed  under  one 
and  the  same  name. 

My  own  candid  opinion  in  regard  to  the  "  Cochin  China " 
fowls  is,  that  they  do  not  equal  the  best  Shanghaes  in  the 
valuable  qualities  that  constitute  a  good  fowl.  They  are  gene- 
rally less  compact  in  form,  have  longer  legs,  and  lay  smaller 
eggs.  Such  is  my  experience,  and  the  opinions  of  breeders 
with  whom  I  have  conversed  on  the  subject,  or  from  whom  I 
have  received  written  correspondence.  I  have  none  of  the 
warm,  enthusiastic  eulogy  that  appears  in  favor  of  Shanghaes, 
to  offer  my  readers  in  praise  of  "  Cochin  Chinas,"  for  the  reason, 
that  it  has  not  been  sent  to  me,  and  has  not  appeared  in  the 
public  journals,  anywhere,  to  my  knowledge;  and  I  have 
access  to  about  all  of  an  agricultural  character,  and  many 
besides.  It  is  true,  that  glowing  accounts  of  these  birds  have 
appeared  in  some  of  our  late  works  on  domestic  poultry,  but 
these  descriptions  are  mere  echoes  of  foreign  authors;  and 
when  our  works  on  domestic  poultry  were  written,  the 
"Cochin  China"  fowls  were  almost  entirely  unknown  in  this 
country ;  consequently,  the  descriptions  given  in  those  works 
could  not  have  been  from  any  actual  experience  of  their  authors  ; 
but  they  were  compelled  to  resort  to  foreign  authorities,  which 
are  incorrect  in  many  particulars,  as  has  been  demonstrated. 

Nolan,  an  Irish  fancier,  thus  speaks  of  this  breed,  in  his 
treatise  on  ornamental  and  aquatic  fowls  : 

"Full-grown  cocks,  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  years  old,  average 
a  weight  of  from  ten  to  twelve  pounds;  the  hens,  from  eight  to  nine 
pounds.  The  male  bird  stands  about  two  feet  high  ;  the  female,  about 
twenty-two  inches.  The  plumage  of  the  cock  is  black-breasted  red ; 
they  are  brown-breasted,  and  sometimes  of  a  lighter  color;  the  hens 
are  generally  of  a  I'ufus  yellow,  or  incline  to  a  rufus  bro;vn,  some- 
times speckled,  and  are  wide  on  the  breast  and  back ;  the  cock's 
comb  is  usually  single,  serrated,  and  erect,  of  a  brilliant  scarlet,  but 
not  always  single ;  I  have  had  both  single  and  double  combs  in  the 
Bame  clutch ;  the  wattles  are  large  ;  they  are  quite  free  from  top-knot ; 
the  hackles  on  the  neck  and  hips,  yellowish  brown;  the  tail,  black, 
with  metalic  luster,  and  when  fully  furnished,  presents  the  usual 
cock's  plume  ;  the  legs  vary  from  a  flesh-color  to  an  orange  yellow, 
and  are  not  so  long  as  in  the  Malay ;  the  eggs  are  generally  buff-col- 
ored, of  large  size,  and  blunt  at  the  ends ;  the  chickens  progress  rap- 
idly in  size,  but  feather  slowly,  so  that  an  early  clutch  would  be  most 
valuable,  as  passing  through  the  milder  summer  months.  I  cannot 
discover  the  doubling  of  the  wings,  or  horse-shoe  markings,  described 
by  some  writers,  in  any  of  my  stock ;  I  think,  if  it  did  "exist,  it  was 
purely  accidental." 


COCHIN    CHINA    FOWLS.  85 

Here  you  have  about  all  that  can  be  said  of  importance,  in 
regard  to  the  "  Cochin  Chinas."  The  testimony  is  in — rendei 
your  own  verdict  These  fowls  sell  at  all  prices,  from  $3  up, 
and  it  is  said  that  Mr.  Burnham  paid  $100  for  the  pair  of  pre- 
mium "  Cochin  China  "  fowls  at  the  poultry  fair  in  Boston, 
November,  1852  ! 

They  have  some  good  specimens  in  England,  as  appears  from 
the  following  extract  from  the  London  "  Mark  Lane  Express  "  : 

"  One  of  the  most  interesting  sales  we  have  ever  witnessed,  came 
off  under  the  able  auspices  of  Mr.  Strafford,  auctioneer,  at  the  Bazaar 
in  Baker  street ;  and  we  hope  it  is  a  prelude  to  something  better,  for 
with  the  growing  feeling  in  favor  of  poultry,  both  as  an  amusement, 
and  an  important  feature  in  our  domestic  economy,  we  must  have  a 
metropolitan  show  of  poultry,  and  no  longer  oblige  their  admirers  to 
travel  far  into  the  country  for  an  opportunity  to  compare  their  speci- 
mens. We  are  led  to  the  foregoing  observations  from  noticing  what  has 
taken  place  at  the  above  yard  in  November  last,  in  the  sale  of  Mr. 
Sturgeon's  Cochin  China  fowls,  and  again  on  Thursday  and  Friday  in 
last  week  ;  there  cannot  be  a  second  opinion  but  that  the  Bazaar  is  the 
best  place  for  such  an  exhibition.  At  the  sale  of  Mr.  Sturgeon's  splen- 
did fowls,  wet  as  the  day  was,  the  place  was  filled,  and  all  were  much 
delighted  with  the  sight  as  a  show,  and  a  first-rate  one  too,  and  sur- 
prised that  170  almost  faultless  specimens  could  be  produced  in  one 
yard. 

"  Of  the  sale  itself,  there  seemed  to  be  but  one  opinion — admiration 
of  the  fowls,  and  among  the  uninitiated,  surprise  at  the  prices ;  and 
certainly  we  must  consider  it  one  of  the  most  extraordinary  sales  that 
ever  took  place,  and  there  must  have  been  much  confidence  in  the 
breeder,  quality  in  the  birds,  and  emulation  amongst  those  in  attend- 
ance, to  have  produced  £609  for  170  chickens!  It  is  true  that  Mr. 
Sturgeon's  breed  stands  at  present  unrivalled ;  but  superior  as  his 
birds  unquestionably  are,  an  average  of  £3  11s.  is  what  we  were  not 
prepared  for.  Aradhgst  those  present,  we  noticed  Lord  Ducie,  Mr. 
Wakeley,  Sir  Eneas  M'Donald,  Messrs.  Punchard,  Johnson,  Gilbert, 
Steggal,  Fletcher,  Catlin,  Ambler,  Reynolds,  <fec.,  <fcc.  A  curious  fact 
occurred  at  the.  sale  of  lot  12;  when  the  hammer  fell  at  £7  ;  a  foreign 
gentleman  present  exclaimed,  "  Seven  pounds — can  that  be  for  v on 
hen?"  The  highest  price  was  £12  10s.,  gi'ven  by  Mr.  Hodginson  for 
a  cockerel  by  "Jerry,"  hatched  the  first  week  in  April  last." 

CHITTAGONGS. 

A  few  individuals  who  are  raising  this  breed  of  fowls,  would 
make  it  appear  that  they  are  identical  with  the  BRAHMA  Poo- 
TRAS.  The  Brahmas  selling  at  so  much  higher  rates  than  the 
Chittagongs,  renders  it  to  the  interest  of  these  gentlemen  to 
merge  the  two  breeds  in  one ;  but  I  shall  block  that  game  at 
the  outset.  Mr.  G.  P.  Burnham,  of  Mass.,  who  is  laboring  to 


80  CHITTAGONG    FOWLS. 

show  that  they  are  identical  with  Chittngongs,  and  Chittagongs 
with  grey  Shanghaes,  thus  described  this  breed  in  Dr.  Bennett's 
Poultry  Book,  in  1850: 

"  The  Chittagong  is  a  very  superior  bird,  showy  in  plumage,  coura- 
geous, and  exceedingly  hardy.  The  color  of  mine  is  grey,  generally, 
interspersed  with  lightish  yellow  and  white  feathers,  upon  the  pullets. 
The  rooster  is  grey  body;  the  wings,  hackles,  back  and  rump  feathers, 
a  silvery  yellow,  tinted  with  stray  light  brown  and  white ;  the  tail  and 
breast  are  nearly  black. 

"The  legs  of  this  fowl  are  of  a  reddish  flesh-color;  the  meat  is  deli- 
cately white;  the  combs,  large  and  single;  wattles,  very  full;  wings, 
good  size.  The  legs  are  more  or  less  feathered  ;  the  model  is  graceful ; 
carriage,  proud  and  easy ;  action,  prompt  and  determined." 

Here  we  have  a  true  description  of  the  Chittagongs.  The 
reader  will  please  note  the  colors,  " grey"  " yelloiv"  "  brown" 
and  " black"  and  then  turn  to  the  description  of  the  Brahma 
Pootras,  by  the  same  gentlemen,  in  this  work,  written  in  1852, 
in  which  not  one  word  in  regard  to  "brown"  "yellow"  and 
" black"  appears,  and  he  can  judge  the  merits  of  the  case 
without  any  comment  of  mine.  The  truth  is,  the  Chittagongs 
are  a  large,  clumsy  fowl,  with  no  other  merit,  except  size,  when 
compared  with  our  best  breeds.  Geo.  A.  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Geo., 
in  speaking  of  various  breeds  of  fowls,  in  a  communication  to 
me,  says : 

"  They  are  a  large,  lazy  fowl.  I  think  them  poor  layers  and  bad 
sitters,  and  are  pretty  sure  to  have  the  gout.  I  should  not  advise  any 
one  to  have  them." 

The  size  of  these  fowls  is  nearly  equal  to  our  largest  breeds, 
weighing  from  eighteen  to  twenty  pounds  per  pair,  when 
eighteen  months  old.  Dr.  Kerr  says,  in  his  work : 

"In  and  around  Philadelphia,  we  have  a  large  fowl,  to  which  the 
above  name  has  been  incorrectly  given,  as,  on  further  acquaintance,  it 
has  proved  to  be  a  mongrel,  and  like  most  mongrels,  comparatively 
worthless.  Until  within  a  short  time,  it  went  under  various  names, 
as  Ostrich  Fowl,  the  Turkey  breed,  the  Big  breed,  the  Booby,  the 
Bucks  County  Fowl,  and  even  the  Malay.  It  is  difficult  to  trace  its 
history.  Some  forty  years  ago,  several  large  fowls  were  brought  hither 
from  different  parts  of  China,  the  East  Indies,  and  the  adjacent  isles ; 
subsequently,  and  within  a  few  years,  others  were  added.  These  all, 
except  in  a  very  few  cases,  have  been  mixed,  and  breed  indiscrimi- 
nately ;  and  the  result  is  the  fowl  to  which,  a  cording  to  the  caprice 
of  the  people,  the  above  names  have  been  applied.  It  is  of  all  colors, 
from  black  to  white,  frequently  speckled,  sometimes  red  and  black,  and 
again  dun.  When  bred,  it  will  generally  produce  its  like  in  point  of  size, 
but  rarely  in  point  of  color,  showing  it,  unquestionably,  to  be  a  mixture 
of  several  original  breeds.  They  are  not  very  good  layers,  though  their 


CHITTAGONG    FOWLS.  87 

eggs  are  very  large  and  rich.  Their  legs  are  sometimes  lightly  feath- 
ered, not  always,  and  vary  in  color  from  yellow  to  a  dark  or  bluish  hue. 
I  once  had  a  pullet  of  this  kind,  which  weighed  eleven  and  a  quarter 
pounds ;  the  usual  weight  for  full  grown  males,  is  from  ten  pounda 
and  a  half  to  twelve  pounds;  females,  from  eight  to  ten  pounds. 
They  are  generally  quite  leggy,  standing  some  twenty -six  inches  high, 
and  the  hens  twenty-two  inches.  A  first  cross  with  the  Shanghae 
would  make  a  very  large  and  valuable  bird  for  the  table,  not  for  breed- 
ing from." 

Nolan,  in  his  wort  on  poultry,  published  in  Dublin,  says : 

"  The  Chittagongs  is  another  eastern  variety,  frequently  confounded 
with  the  Malay ;  there  is  no  doubt  of  its  being  a  distinct  species ;  the 
color  is  uniform,  or  nearly  so ;  not  so  with  the  Malay  ;  they  are  large 
in  the  body,  and  short  on  the  legs.  They  do  not  stand  so  high  as 
either  the  Cochin  China  or  Malay;  the  cock  stands,  in  his  ordinary 
way,  about  twenty-two  inches  in  height,  and  the  hens  about  twenty 
inches ;  the  weight  of  the  cock  is  from  eight  to  ten  pounds,  and  the 
hens  from  six  to  seven  pounds ;  the  plumage  is  uniformly  speckled 
grey,  or  what  some  understand  as  cuckoo-colored,  with  large  comb, 
free  from  top-knot,  with  ordinary  sized  wattles ;  hackles  partaking  of 
the  same  mottled  grey  of  the  rest  of  the  plumage;  the  tail  is  small  in 
proportion  to  their  size  ;  the  legs  vary,  being  occasionally  white,  blue, 
or  yellow ;  the  eggs  are  large  and  abundant ;  the  early  chickena 
advance  in  size  and  plumage  with  as  much  rapidity  as  our  common 
poultry.  There  is  no  doubt  of  their  being  crossed  on  the  Dorking, 
which  fowl  they  much  resemble  in  shape,  and  then  produce  what  ia 
denominated  the  grey  Dorking ;  they  are  a  large  sized,  hardy,  and 
very  valuable  bird." 


83 


HONG    KONG    FOWLS. 


HONG     KONG     FOWLS. 

This  cut  represents  a  pair  of  Hong  Kong  fowls  owned  and 
bred  by  C.  C.  Plaisted,  Esq.,  of  Great  Falls,  N.  H.  Mr.  P. 
writes  me  as  follows : 

This  mammoth  breed  of  fowls  was  imported  from,  Canton  in  the 
year  1849,  by  Capt.  D.  S.  Fuller,  of  the  ship  Vancouver.  The  name 
"Hong  Kong,"  has  been  bestowed  on  them  as  a  convenient  appellation 
to  distinguish  them  from  other  Chinese  fowls.  For  size  and  beauty, 
they  equal  any  other  breed  of  fowls  in  New  England.  The  portraits 
at  the  head  of  this  article  were  drawn  from  life — a  pair  in  my  pos- 
session. I  weighed  the  imported  hen,  and  a  cock  from  her,  on  the 
third  of  April  last,  and  found  their  weight  to  be  twenty-three  pounds 
and  nine  ounces.  The  hen's  weight  was  twelve  pounds  and  one  ounce, 
and  the  cock  weighed  eleven  and  a  half  pounds.  He  was  only  ten 
months  old  at  the  time.  The  prevailing  shade  of  his  plumage  is  a 
glossy  black  on  the  breast,  sides  and  legs ;  the  hackles,  back  and  rump 
feathers  are  a  bright  red ;  his  tail  is  a  rich,  glossy,  greenish  black 


HONG    KONG    FOWLS.  89 

wattles,  heavy ;  eyee,  very  large  ;  prominent  comb,  and  dark,  smooth 
legs.  The  hen  is  a  perfect  match  for  the  cock  in  color  and  general 
appearance ;  black,  save  her  neck  hackles,  which  are  penciled  with 
red.  She  is  a  good  layer,  and  her  eggs  are  quite  as  large  as  those  of 
the  domestic  turkey.  I  am  indebted  to  Dr.  J.  C.  Bennett,  of  this  place, 
for  this  noble  pair,  as  a  present.  Dr.  Elihu  Halladay,  in  a  letter  to 
Dr.  Bennett,  says :  "  the  eggs,  as  far  as  I  could  judge,  are  fine  spec- 
imens. The  Hong  Kong's  eggs  from  your  great  imported  hen,  are 
different  from  anything  I  ever  saw  or  heard  of  being  produced  by  any 
breed  of  hens.  They  have  a  resemblance  to  the  turkey's  egg,  except 
in  form,  which  is  quite  different.  I  feel  quite  as  anxious  to  raise  Hong 
Kongs  as  Brahma  Pootras." 

For  this  hen,  and  a  very  excellent  cockerel,  Dr.  Eben  Wight,  of 
Boston,  the  former  owner,  refused  fifty  dollars,  and  was  repeatedly 
offered  twenty-five  dollars  for  the  hen  alone. 

The  fowls  which  are  delineated  at  the  head  of  this  article,  could 
not  be  purchased  at  a  similar  price. 

There  are  a  great  many  fowls  that  are  called  Hong  Kongs,  with 
double  combs  and  feathered  legs,  and  of  all  colors,  but  all  such  fowls 
are  a  cross  breed.  It  is  generally  believed  that  these  fowls  were  pro- 
duced by  a  cross  in  this  country.  This  is  a  great  mistake.  In  form 
and  color  they  breed  the  most  perfect  of  any  fowls  I  have  ever  seen. 
They  always  have  large,  single  combs,  dark,  smooth  legs,  with  yellow 
bottoms  to  their  feet.  Any  one  well  acquainted  with  this  breed, 
would  know  them  by  their  large,  dark-grey  eye,  not  running  in  cir- 
cles around  the  eye,  as  is  generally  seen  in  other  breeds,  but  in  spots 
all  over  the  eye,  which  gives  them  a  very  singular  look.  I  have 
hatched  a  large  number  of  chickens  this  season,  from  them,  and  have 
found  them  to  breed  perfect  in  every  respect. 

C.  C.  P. 

I  recently  procured  a  pair  of  these  fine  fowls  from  Mr. 
Plaisted's  stock,  and  a  fine  pair  of  fowls  they  are.  The  portraits 
here  presented  do  not  do  them  justice.  They  are  far  superior 
in  form  and  general  appearance  to  those  delineated  in  the  cut. 
Mr.  Plaisted  has  given  them  a  very  fair  description.  I  shall 
breed  them  the  coming  season,  and  shall  then  give  my  views  of 
their  merits  more  in  detail,  in  the  Northern  Farmer.  The 
premium  pair  of  Hong  Kongs  at  the  poultry  show  in  Boston, 
November,  1852,  sold  for  $40. 

Dr.  Bennett  speaks  of  these  fowls  as  follows  : 

"This  fowl  resembles  the  Imperial  Chinese  in  almost  every  respect, 
except  color.  There  is,  however,  a  marked  difference  in  the  legs.  The 
Imperial  Chinese  generally  have  yellow  legs,  frequently  very  heavily 
feathered,  whereas  the  Hong  Kongs  usually  have  dark  legs,  and  almost 
always  smooth.  They  possess  the  same  excellencies,  are  equal  in  size, 
and  are  superior  in  beauty  of  plumage.  The  original  importation  was 
made  from  Canton  and  Shanghae,  in  the  year  1849.  The  name  Hong 


00  HONG    KONG    FOWLS. 

Kong,  has  been  bestowed  on  them  as  a  convenient  appellation  to  dis- 
cfnguish  them  from  other  Chinese  fowls.  They  are  the  Mandarin  Fowl 
of  China. 

"  The  importer  thus  describes  the  pair  now  referred  to : 

*  '  The  cock  is  one  of  six  fowls  of  my  own  importation,  direct  from " 
Canton,  early  in  the  present  season.  His  color  is  quite  dark,  the  pre- 
vailing shade  of  plumage  being  a  rich,  glossy,  greenish  black,  on  the 
breast,  sides,  and  legs ;  the  hackles,  wings,  back,  and  rump  feathers 
are  a  bright  red ;  his  legs  are  dark  ;  wattles,  heavy ;  eye,  very  large ; 
prominent  comb,  and  very  short  tail.  He  is  a  splendid  bird,  not  ten 
months  old.  His  weight  this  day  is  ten  and  a  quarter  pounds. 

"  '  The  hen  is  a  perfect  match  for  the  cock  in  color  and  general  ap- 
pearance— dark  plumage,  (black,  saving  her  neck-hackles,)  of  a  very 
fine  form,  and  one  of  the  rarest  birds  I  have  ever  yet  seen.  She  is 
also  imported  directly  from  Canton,  and  was  sent  me  by  a  gentleman 
fancier,  who  chanced  to  see  ray  crower,  and  who  considered  him  a 
fitting  mate  for  such  a  fowl.  I  weighed  this  hen  on  the  27th  of  May — 
she  drew  ten  pounds,  strong,  though  she  had  just  come  from  the  sitting- 
coop,  and  was  not  so  heavy  by  half  to  three-quarters  of  a  pound, 
probably,  as  she  will  be  in  fair  laying  condition.  A  few  of  her 
chickens,  hatched  this  spring,  have  proved  rare  specimens,  for  domestic 
birds.' 

"In  size  and  weight,  these  fowls  are  well  ranked  among  the  best 
specimens  of  their  race.  Their  laying  qualities  are  also  equal  to  the 
best. 

"The  hen  here  described,  laid  almost  daily  for  six  months,  when 
owned  by  Dr.  Wight,  and  she  has,  since  she  came  into  my  possession, 
laid  well.  Her  eggs  are  very  peculiar. 

"There  are  very  few  of  these  fowls  in  this  country,  owing  to  the 
fact  that  the  original  co-ck  was  slain  in  battle,  soon  after  his  arrival  in 
America.  A  coop  containing  Royal  Cochins  happened  to  be  in  such 
proximity,  that  the  fowls  in  each,  beholding  each  other,  became 
excited,  and  burst  forth  from  their  prisons  and  came  in  conflict. 

"  The  encounter  was  a  severe  one,  and  resulted  in  the  death  of  both. 
One  was  killed  on  the  spot,  and  the  other  died  shortly  after." 

J.  C.  B. 

The  Hong  Kong  fowl,  in  my  opinion,  surpasses  any  other  known 
breed  in  New  England.  For  beauty  and  laying  qualities,  I  am  certain 
they  will  stand  in  the  foremost  ranks.  I  have  tried  the  different 
breeds  that  are  now  attracting  so  much  attention  in  this  section. 
Some  I  have  found  very  good,  but  concluded  on  the  whole,  that  many 
overrated  their  fowls.  A  friend,  (Dr.  J.  C.  Bennett,  Great  Falls,  N. 
11.,)  sent  me  a  pair  of  Hong  Kongs.  I  have  bred  them  for  two  years, 
and  they  have  far  exceeded  my  expectations.  Of  twenty-five  chickens 

1  have  bred  this  season,  not  one  was  imperfect.     They  bred  to  the 
feather,  and  resemble  the  old  fowl  perfectly.     I  do  not  hesitate  in 
saying,  the  Hong  Kongs  are  THE  FOWLS. 

H.  H.  HUNTRESS, 

Biddeford,  Me. 


HONG    KONG    FOWLS. 


91 


ENGLISH      HONG      KONG      FOWLS. 

Since  the  foregoing  matter  was  prepared  on  Hong  Kong 
fowls,  C.  C.  Plaisted,  Esq.,  of  Great  Falls,  N.  II.,  lias  imported 
some  very  choice  stock  of  this  breed,  from  England,  a  pair  of 
which  the  above  cut  represents,  and  which  I  have  received 
from  Mr.  Plaisted.  They  cost  $35  in  England.  These  fowls 
possess  all  the  main  characteristics  of  those  I  received  from  H. 
H.  Huntress,  Esq.,  of  Biddeford,  Me.,  whose  fowls  have  been  so 
much  admired;  but  they  are  larger  and  more  sinewy;  legs, 
large  and  strong — the  real  English  points  of  a  choice  fowl. 
The  color  of  the  cock  is  a  chesnut-color,  intermixed  with  darker 
shades.  The  pullet  is  nearly  black,  rather  more  so  than  our 
American  bred  Hong  Kongs.  There  has  been  no  cross  in  the 
blood  of  this  breed  of  fowls,  and  they  will  breed  to  the  feather. 
The  above  pair,  when  mature,  will  probably  weigh  about  twen- 
ty-one pounds,  and  they  are  truly  a  magnificent  breed.  I  learn 
that  Mr.  Plaisted  will  breed  extensively  from  his  stock  of  Hong 
Kongs. 


92  HOANG    HO    FOWLS. 

The  following  letter  was  received  with  the  fowls.  My 
readers  will  please  to  note  that  Dr.  Bennett  goes  to  Fort  des 
Moines,  Iowa,  as  soon  as  navigation  opens,  to  reside  perma- 
nently, and  all  communications  to  be  addressed  to  him  at  that 
place  : 

.    GREAT  FALLS,  K  H.,  Jan.  31,  1853. 

Friend  Miner, — I  have  only  time  to  say  that  I  forward  you  a  pair 
of  Imported  Hong  Konrts,  just  from  England,  as  a  present  from  Charles 
C.  Plaistecl,  Esq.,  of  this  place.  They  are  splendid  birds,  and  the  only 
pair  ever  imported  FROM  ENGLAND.  They  are  PERFECTLY  IDENTICAL 
with  Mr.  Plaisted's  stock  he  had  of  me,  as  to  color  and  every  general 
characteristic.  I  took  them  out  of  the  coop  they  came  in,  as  they 
were  too  much  cramped  for  room,  and  are  suffering  for  liberty. 

In  the  other  end  of  the  coop,  I  send  you  three  Wild  Indian  Moun- 
tain Fowls,  a  cock,  (yellowish,)  and  two  hens,  (black,)  and  they  are 
one  of  the  best  breeds  in  the  world. 

Yours  truly, 

J.  C.  BENNETT. 


HOANG      HO      FOWLS. 

This  is  a  variety  of  fowls  of  great  merit.  It  has  been 
asserted  that  these  fowls  originated  in  a  cross  between  a  Hong 
Kong  cock,  and  a  black  Shanghae  hen,  but  Dr.  Bennett  affirms 
that  he  imported  them,  and  that  they  do  not  possess  a  particle 
of  Hong  Kong  or  Shanghae  blood.  Be  that  as  it  may,  they 
are  a  fine  fowl.  They  may  be  described  as  follows  :  Cocks,  a 
bright  chestnut  color  ;  short  legs,  sometimes  feathered,  and  fre- 
quently smooth ;  head,  erect ;  comb,  single  and  serrated  ;  eye, 
large,  and  very  dark,  with  little  or  no  visible  iris  ;  weight  of  best 
samples  at  two  years  old,  twelve  pounds ;  a  peculiar  crow, 
advancing  in  the  act,  and  continuing  the  sound  longer  than  is 
natural  in  other  fowls. 

The  pullets  are  uniformly  either  a  rich,  glossy  black — not  a 
perfect  jet — with  a  slight  penciling  of  chestnut  neck  hackles, 
or  a  variegated,  penciled  brown ;  form,  that  of  the  best  mod- 
eled Shanghaes  ;  compact,  short  legs,  dark  color,  feathered 
generally,  but  not  always ,  short  tail ;  eye  dark,  of  a  snaky 
look,  with  no  perceptible  iris  (outer  ring  usually  red,)  at  a  few 
feet  distance.  The  pullets  are  larger,  in  proportion  to  cocks 
generally,  than  other  breeds,  frequently  drawing  ten  pounds.  I 
have  six  pullets  of  this  breed,  that  were  hatched  in  June  last, 


HOANG    HO    FOWLS.  93 

now  eight  months  old,  that  average  about  eight  pounds  each, 
and  the  old  cock  weighs  only  eleven  pounds.  They  equal  the 
best  Shanghaes  for  laying,  seldom  missing  a  day,  unless  it  be 
between  litters.  These  fowls  have  a  peculiar  penchant  for  fresh 
meat,  and  they  will  devour  mice  and  birds  with  great  gusto, 
and  even  catch  them.  A  pullet  in  my  possession,  three  months 
old,  caught  a  young  bird,  and  devoured  it,  feathers  and  all. 

This  variety  of  fowls  is  very  hardy,  their  progenitors  having 
come  from  a  severe  climate,  and  they  stand  our  severe  winters 
much  better  than  our  native  fowls.  The  chicks  are  also  very 
hardy,  and  are  protected  by  a  coat  of  fur  while  young,  almost 
impervious  to  water  ;  and  while  our  common  breeds  are  droop- 
ing and  chilled,  the  Hoang  Ho  chicks  run  about  in  the  sleet, 
snow,  or  rain,  as  happy  as  in  midsummer,  chirping  a  merry 

SOHg. 

The  cocks  of  this  variety,  when  crossed  with  our  good  com- 
mon fowls,  of  any  breed,  make  a  very  fine  cross — one  that 
excites  the  admiration  of  all  who  see  them.  This  I  know  from 
experience,  having  disposed  of  eggs  of  this  half  breed  to  various 
gentlemen,  who  are  rapturous  in  the  praise  of  them,  without 
an  exception ;  and  the  cocks  of  such  crosses  have  been  sold 
as  high  as  $5  each.  The  size  of  such  a  cross  is  but  little 
diminished  from  that  of  the  pure  Hoang  Hos,  and  the  fowls 
are  beautiful,  surpassing  the  parentage  in  all  cases.  The 
crossed  cocks  are  generally  of  the  same  bright  chestnut  color 
of  the  Hoang  Ho  cocks,  and  much  exceed  them  in  their  grace- 
ful proportions.  Some  of  the  pullets  resemble  the  pure  fowls 
so  much,  as  not  to  be  distinguished,  except  by  one  well 
acquainted  with  them. 

The  other,  and  general  characteristics  of  the  Hoang  Ho  fowls, 
are  similar  to  our  best  Asiatic  breeds.  They  are  confined  by 
fences  three  feet  high.  I  have  furnished  n-o  portraits  of  them 
in  consequence  of  a  press  of  other  business,  but  shall  have 
them  executed  at  the  earliest  period,  for  insertion  in  the 
"  Farmer." 

There  are  but  three  or  four  individuals  in  the  United  States, 
who  have  this  breed  at  present.  Wm.  O.  Leslie,  Esq.,  of  Pa., 
writes  me  under  date  of  Jan.  20th,  1853,  as  follows  : 

"  In  your  editorials  on  Poultry,  you  have  thus  far  overlooked  the 
great  Hoang  Hos,  a  breed  which  I  consider  the  largest  of  any  we 
have.  I  have  a  pullet  a  little  over  six  months  old,  which  weighs  six 
pounds  full.  She  lays  almost  daily.  She  is  from  Dr.  Bennett's 
stock." 


94 


BLACK    CHINA    FOWLS. 


BLACK      CHINA      FOWLS. 

The  above  cut  represents  a  somewhat  rare,  but  very  excellent  des- 
cription of  fowls,  which  have  been  bred  in  Norfolk  county,  Massachu- 
setts. 

The  fowls  from  which  the  Black  China  breed  had  its  origin,  were 
imported  into  this  country  in  the  spring  of  1848,  in  the  ship  Vancou- 
ver, from  China,  and  came  into  the  possession  of  Dr.  Eben  Wight,  of 
Dedham,  Mass.  At  the  time  he  received  them,  the  hen  weighed  nine 
pounds.  She  ultimately  proved  to  be  a  good  layer,  and,  as  her  form 
oecame  maturely  developed,  showed  points  which  denoted  the  best 
requirements  of  the  class  to  which  she  belonged.  She  was  short  in 
the  legs — very  much  so;  round  and  full  in  the  body  and  breast;  the 
plumage  of  the  body  dark  green,  with  yellow  hackles  on  a  black 
ground.  The  chicks  of  the  first  brood  were  all  males — the  number 
being  six.  At  six  months  old,  the  heaviest  of  this  brood  weighed  ten 
and  a  half  pounds,  and  the  lightest  one  ten  and  a  quarter  pounds. 
The  color  of  the  males  is  black,  with  reddish,  or  gold-colored  neck 
and  back  feathers.  They  stand  erect,  and  are  majestic  in  their 
demeanor.  The  comb  and  wattles  of  the  stock  from  those  originally 
imported,  are  very  small,  a  feature  that  is  not  found  in  any  other 
variety  of  Black  China  fowls.  The  combs,  on  both  cocks  and 
hens,  are  single  in  all  pure  specimens,  and,  on  no  account,  can  they 
be  considered  large ;  if  otherwise,  the  purity  of  the  fowl  may  be 


BLACK    CHINA    FOWLS.  95 

impeachable.  What  the  weight  of  the  male  member  of  the  originally 
imported  pair  was,  I  cannot  state;  but,  at  ten  months  old,  the  produce 
above  specified,  weighed  —  the  heaviest  of  the  six  —  twelve  ana  a  half 
pounds;  the  others  were  little  inferior  to  him  in  weight.  Their 
plumage  was  uniform  with  their  parentage  —  a  distinction  that  has 
been  kept  up  by  every  brood  hatched  from  the  same  stock.  I  speak 
within  the  mark,  when  I  say,  that  the  males  of  this  breed,  one  year 
old,  will  weigh  from  nine  to  ten  pounds  each,  and  the  hens  from  seven 
to  eight  pounds.  The  hen  originally  imported,  a  few  weeks  ago 
weighed  twelve  and  a  half  pounds,  and  is,  perhaps,  the  weightiest 
fowl  of  her  class  in  the  Union.  The  Black  China  fowls  are  excellent 
layers,  as  I  have  very  good  reason  to  know.  The  old  hen  referred  to, 
laid  163  eggs  in  169  days,  and  her  being  kept  separate  from  all  others 
during  that  period,  and  laying  apart,  left  me  no  room  to  question  the 
number  of  eggs  produced. 

In  every  respect,  whether  for  laying  properties,  or  as  a  table  fowl, 
I  know  of  no  description  more  eligible  than  the  Black  Chinas.  They 
are  hardy  and  healthy  in  this  northern  latitude,  and  I  have  no  doubt 
would  attain  to  a  much  greater  weight  under  a  more  mild  climate, 
south  or  west.  In  productive  qualities,  the  Black  Chinas,  could  not 
improve  anywhere,  south  or  west,  so  as  to  eclipse  their  reputation  here. 

The  cut  1  send  you,  (that  at  the  head  of  this  article,)  is  a  very  good 
representation  of  my  fowls,  and  illustrates  their  proportions  in  a  very 
correct  manner. 

I  am  yours,  <fec., 

A.  WHITE. 

East  Randolph,  Mass.,  13th  Dec.,  1852. 

Mr.  "White  gives  us  a  pretty  good  account  of  his  fowls  in 
regard  to  weight  and  laying  qualities,  which  cannot  be  true  of 
the  breed  generally  ;  yet  I  have  no  reason  to  doubt  his  word  in 
his  own  particular  case.  What  the  difference  is  between  the 
"  Black  China  "  fowls,  and  the  black  Shanghaes,  I  am  unable 
to  understand.  Both  are  from  China,  and  should  go  by  one 
and  the  same  name.  I  am  decidedly  opposed  to  a  useless 
multiplication  of  names,  when  there  is  no  good  reason  for  them, 
and  the  public  should  set  their  faces  against  such  things  ;  if 
not,  every  new  importation,  and  every  new  cross,  will  be  dubbed 
a  new  name,  till  we  shall  have  become  bewildered  with  the 
endless  varieties  that  will  be  introduced.  The  following  is  from 
D.  P.  Newell,  Esq.,  of  Rochester,  who  gives  this  breed  the  name 
of  " 


"  The  Cantons  were  imported  from  China,  and  are  a  large,  glossy, 
black  fowl,  lively  and  spirited  in  appearance,  with  short  legs,  and 
large,  plump  bodies.  They  were  much  admired  at  the  late  State  Fair 
at  Utica,  and  they  are  a  great  acquisition  to  a  poultry  yard.  For 
laying,  they  will  compare  favorably  with  any  other  fowl  that  I  ever 
kept.  They  lay  a  large  white  egg,  much  larger  than  the  eggs  of  Co- 


GREAT    MALAY    FOWLS. 


chin  Chinas,  or  Shanghaes.  They  are  hardy,  and  their  young  are 
strong  and  vigorous,  and  easily  reared.  Those  who  fancy  a  black 
fowl,  cannot  do  better  than  to  obtain  the  Cantons,  for  they  are  a  bet- 
ter and  more  profitable  fowl  than  the  black  Spanish,  black  Shanghae, 
or  great  Java  fowls.  They  mature  young,  and  have  most  of  the  good 
qualities  of  the  Dorking  fowL" 


GREAT     JAVA     FOWL. 

This  is  a  breed  similar  in  some  respects  to  the  Black  China 
fowls.  They  were  introduced  into  this  country  some  years 
previous  to  the  advent  of  the  majority  of  the  Asiatic  fowls,  and 
at  the  time,  considerable  noise  was  made  in  regard  to  their 
qualities,  but  little  or  nothing  is  now  said  about  them.  I  kept 
them  on  Long  Island,  some  years  ago,  but  did  not  like  them. 
They  have  no  merit  except  size.  Dr.  Bennett,  in  his  Treatise 
on  Poultry,  says : 

"  These,  like  all  other  pure  Java  fowls,  are  of  a  black,  or  dark  auburn 
color,  with  very  large  black  legs,  single  comb  and  wattles.  They  are 
good  layers,  and  their  eggs  are  very  large  and  well-flavored.  Their 
gait  is  slow  and  majestic.  They  are,  in  fact,  amongst  the  most  valua- 
ble fowls  in  the  country,  and  are  frequently  described  in  the  books  as 
"  Spanish  fowls,"  than  which  nothing  is  more  erroneous.  They  are  as 
distinctly  an  original  breed  as  the  pure  blooded  Great  Malay,  and 
possess  about  the  same  qualities  as  to  excellence,  but  falling  rather 
short  as  to  beauty.  This,  however,  is  a  matter  of  taste,  and  some 
consider  the  pure  Java  superior  to  all  other  large  fowls,  BO  far  as 
beauty  is  concerned.  Their  plumage  is  decidedly  rich." 


GREAT     MALAY     FOWL. 

This  breed,  as  well  as  the  Great  Javas,  are  well  represented 
by  the  portraits  of  Black  China  fowls,  previously  shown  in 
this  work.  The  Great  Malays  were  brought  originally  from 
the  peninsula  of  that  name,  at  the  southern  extremity  of  Asia. 
Richardson  says  : 

"  The  Malay  fowl  stands  very  high  on  the  legs,  is  long-necked, 
serpent-headed,  and  is  in  color,  usually,  a  dark  brown,  streaked  with 
yellow ;  sometimes,  however,  with  white.  His  form  and  appearance 
are  grand  and  striking  in  the  extreme,  and  he  is  no  small  embellish- 
ment to  the  poultry  yard.  This  fowl  is  also  frequently,  but  erroneously, 
called  the  Chittagong.  The  Malay  fowls,  however,  that  were  origin- 
ally imported,  were  by  no  means  such  birds  as  I  could  recommend  to 
the  notice  of  the  breeder,  their  size  possessing  too  much  offal,  aa 
neck,legs,  and  thighs,  and  the  flesh  being  dark-colored  and  oily." 


-  '. 

JERSEY   BUTE    FOWLS.  97 

It  is  useless  to  give  further  de.tails  of  these  fowls,  as  they  are 
not  popular,  and  the  less  we  have  to  do  with  them  the  better, 
when  other  breeds  of  much  more  value  are  within  our  reach, 
at  very  moderate  prices.  It  appears  that  a  large  red  fowl  is 
called  "  Malay,"  at  the  south,  as  will  be  seen  by  the  following 
extract : 

The  Malays  do  very  well  in  this  climate,  (Ga.) ;  lay  large  eggs,  and 
about  fifteen  at  a  litter ;  may  easily  be  prevented  from  sitting,  and 
are  otherwise  easily  managed.  The  chickens  are  strong  when  hatched, 
grow  fast,  and  feather  sooner  than  most  of  the  large  birds ;  color,  red. 

GEO.  A.  SMITH. 
Macon,  Ga. 

JERSEY     BLUE     FOWLS. 

This  breed  was  once  much  in  vogue,  but  are  not  popular  at 
the  present  time.  They  originated  in  New  Jersey,  from  a  cross 
of  some  of  the  Great  Malay  with  some  of  our  native  breeds. 
Dr.  Kerr,  in  his  "  Ornamental  and  Domestic  Poultry,"  says : 

"  The  color  of  this  variety  is  light-blue,  sometimes  approaching  to 
dun ;  the  tail  and  wings  rather  shorter  than  those  of  the  common 
fowl ;  its  legs  are  of  various  colors,  generally  dark,  sometimes  lightly 
feathered.  Of  superior  specimens,  the  cocks  weigh  from  seven  to  nine 
pounds,  and  the  hens  from  six  to  eight  pounds.  They  are  evidently 
mongrels ;  and  though  once  a  good  deal  thought  of,  yet,  since  the 
purer  breeds,  as  the  Shanghaes  and  Cochin  Chinas,  have  been  intro- 
duced, they  begin  to  be  neglected,  as  indeed  all  mongrels  should  be, 
BO  far  as  breeding  from  them  is  concerned." 
5 


98 


GAME    FOWLS. 


SUMATRA     PHEASANT      GAME      FOWLS. 

I  now  introduce  the  most  celebrated  Game  fowls  known.  I 
am  not  in  favor  of  cock-fighting,  by  any  means  ;  but  as  I  have 
undertaken  to  furnish  a  truthful  history  of  the  gallinaceous 
tribes — at  least,  those  of  the  most  important  and  valuable 
breeds,  I  should  fail  to  do  justice  to  my  subject,  if  I  omitted 
the  Games.  In  some  sections  of  our  country,  the  rearing  of 
fowls  for  the  "  pit "  is  quite  extensive,  especially  at  the  south  ; 
and  the  repugnance  of  the  people  in  those  sections  to  the  prac- 


GAME    FOWLS.  99 

tice  of  pitting  them,  is  much  less  than  at  the  north.  The 
indomitable  perseverance  and  courage  of  the  Sumatra  Pheasant 
Games,  is  worthy  our  admiration.  They  will  fight  as  long  as 
enough  of  their  body  hangs  together  to  retain  the  vital  spark, 
and  they  yield  to  nothing  but  death.  Dr.  Bennett  does  not 
overrate  them,  as  I  have  much  corroborative  evidence  of  their 
enduring  powers  and  unflinching  courage  when  pitted,  and  I 
have  had  personal  experience  of  their  courage,  having  procured 
a  pair  from  Dr.  Bennett's  stock.  The  cock  in  my  possession 
has  whipped  every  other  rooster  I  own,  and  without  spurs, 
being  too  young  to  have  them  grown,  if  this  breed  does  ever 
have  them,  which  I  think  doubtful,  from  present  appear- 
ances. They  are  probably  pitted  with  steel  gafts,  usually.  No 
other  fowl  can  compare  with  them  in  beauty  of  plumage — that 
beautiful  green  metalic  lustre  for  which  they  are  noted,  and 
with  which  they  are  invariably  bred  by  Dr.  Bennett.  The  por- 
traits here  given,  are  true  to  life.  The  following  is  Dr.  Bennett's 
description  of  them.  Dr.  B.  was  one  of  the  first  breeders,  and 
the  principle  breeder  of  these  Games  in  this  country : 

These  fowls  are  called  "  Pheasants  "  by  the  natives  of  Sumatra,  from 
their  strong  resemblance  to  that  bird  in  the  length  of  their  tail,  and 
the  manner  of  carrying  it,  which  is  horizontal,  or  in  a  line  with  their 
body,  and  not  erect,  like  other  Games.  The  magnificent  plume-feathers 
of  the  cock's  tail  frequently  sweep  the  ground,  and  the  tail  of  the  hen 
is  fan-shaped.  The  cervical  contour,  likewise,  strikingly  resembles 
that  of  the  wild  pheasant,  and  the  general  aspect  of  the  Sumatra 
Pheasant  Game  is  symmetrical  and  unique  in  the  extreme.  In  this 
country  we  adopt  the  name  of  "Pheasant"  Game,  to  designate  this 
particular  breed,  and  to  distinguish  it  from  another  excellent  breed  of 
Games,  imported  from  Sumatra  by  Capt.  Silver,  and  known  as  "Silver 
Games,"  but  which  are  designated  "Sumatra  Games,"  in  the  late 
report  of  the  New  England  Poultry  Society.  These  "Sumatra  Games  " 
are  larger,  and  carry  their  tail  decidedly  more  erect  man  the  "  Suma- 
tra Pheasant  Games,"  and  the  two  breeds  differ  materially  in  general 
contour  and  brilliancy  of  plumage,  though  both  breeds  are  GAME  to 
the  death. 

The  Sumatra  Pheasant  Games  maybe  thus  described  :  Head,  small, 
with  a  powerful  beak ;  eyes,  lustrous,  quick,  and  fiery ;  the  comb  is 
what  is  known  to  cockers  as  a  "  pea-comb,"  from  its  resemblance  to  a 
pea-blossom  ;  that  is,  it  is  a  small,  serrated  comb,  studded  upon  either 
side  by  a  smaller  comb,  giving  it  the  app-earance  of  three  combs;  but 
some  of  this  breed  have  single  combs ;  wattles,  small,  with  a  very 
small,  dew-lap;  hackles  of  the  neck  and  loins,  very  long  and  bril- 
liant ;  tail,  long  and  drooping,  or  horizontal,  with  abundant  plume- 
feathers,  sweeping  the  ground ;  body,  slim,  and  very  symmetrical ; 
legs,  sinewy,  with  a  powerful  and  muscular  thigh  ;  bottom  of  the  feet 
and  skin  01  the  body,  of  a  bright  yellow  ;  color  of  plumage,  variable, 


100  GAME    FOWLS. 

but  I  generally  prefer  to  breed  the  black,  or  very  dark,  as  a  matter  of 
fancy. 

The  Sumatra  Pheasant  Games  are  among  the  very  finest  of  the 
Wild  Indian  bloods,  and  compare  favorably  with  any  of  the  game 
race.  Like  all  well  bred  Games,  they  never  cringe — they  never  cower 
before  the  steel,  nor  quail  at  the  terrors  of  the  bloody  pit  They 
were  imported  into  Boston,  from  the  island  of  Sumatra,  by  Mr.  J.  A. 

C.  Butters  and  Mr.  Joseph  Muncreeff,  and  closely  resemble  the  Ben- 
gal Games  in  general  contoui',  with  the  exception  of  the  length  of  the 
neck,  which  is  usually  shorter.     The  small  pea-comb  and  tiny  wattles 
of  this  breed  of  Games,  require  but  little  trimming  to  fit  them  for 
the  pit. 

The  males  have  a  small  dew-lap,  like  the  Wild  Indian  Mountain 
Fowl,  but  never  have  the  muffler  which  is  always  to  be  found  in  that 
unique  bird.  They  are  fast  and  indomitable  fighters,  and  their  other 
qualities  are  the  same  as  other  high  bred  Games.  Their  plumage  is 
usually  brilliant,  and  their  symmetry  unsurpassed  ;  in  fact,  I  should 
not  consider  my  Game  stock  complete  without  the  beautiful  Sumatras. 

Mr.  J.  A.  C.  Butters,  the  importer,  from  whom  I  obtained  my  stock, 
in  a  letter  to  the  writer,  of  March  20th,  1851,  observes: 

"As  to  the  history  of  the  Sumatra  Pheasant  Games,  I  can  only 
say — I  received  two  hens  and  one  cock  o*f  this  breed,  direct  from 
Anger's  Point,  Island  of  Sumatra,  India,  April,  1847.  These  fowls 
are  found  there  in  flocks  of  twenty  or  mone,  and  fly  across  from  the 
Island  of  Sumatra  to  the  Island  of  Java ;  the  natives  call  them  Pheas- 
ants, and  are  very  choice  of  those  they  capture  and  breed.  They  are 
kept  almost  exclusively  for  fighting  there.  The  natives  get  them  very 
domestic.  I  have  spent  considerable  time  in  finding  some  history  of 
them  in  print,  but  have  not,  as  they  are  distinctly  from  the  Bankiva 
cock,  that  being  quite  small,  and  carries  the  tail  erect,  like  the  Sea- 
bright  Bantam.  There  is  the  skin  of  one  of  the  same  at  Washington, 

D.  C.,  in  the  collection  of  the  U.  S.  Exploring  Expedition,     I  took  a 
drawing  of  it  last  fall,  when  there — it  is  the  same  fowl.     It  was  in  a 
cabinet  of  birds  from  the  East  Indies.     At  that  time  they  were  num- 
bered, but  no  account  had  been  then  printed.     These  fowls  have  proved 
to  be  most  excellent  layers.     I  do  not  exaggerate  when  I  say  that  they 
will  Jay  a  greaterweight  of  eggs  than  any  other  breed,  in  the  same 
time,  I  say  weight,  because  there  is  so  much  said  about  the  large  size 
of  the  Cochin  Chinas,  Shanghaes,  &c.,  <fcc.     The  Game  eggs  appear 
small,  but,  like  the  fowl,  are  of  extra  weight ;  the  flesh  is  unsurpassed 
by  any  domestic   breed ;  they  are  small   eaters ;   very  quiet  when 
acquainted  with  each  other,  and  do  not  quarrel  as  much  as  DUNG-HILLS, 
but  when  opposed  by  a  strang'er,  their  tenacity  of  purpose  and  courage, 
is  unequalled  by  any  bird.     They  do  not  come  to  maturity  before  the 
end  of  a  year.     If  you  will  examine  the  spur  of  those  sent,  you  will 
see  that  it  is  not  set  firm.     They  ought  never  to  strike  a  blow  until 
the  spur  is  firmly  set  to  the  leg.     I  have  but  one  breed  of  fowls,  and 
have  had  no  other  for  nearly  four  years ;  I  have  bred  GAME  FOWLS 
for  over  eight  years,  (for  sportsmen  mostly.)    The  superiority  of  the 
Sumatra  over  all  other  Game  breeds,  is  the  natural  strength,  com- 
pactness of  body  and  feathers,  and  unusual  intelligence,  and  natural 


GAME    FOWLS.  101 

willingness  to  be  handled,  and  when  trained,  are  perfectly  at  home  in 
any  place.  They  can  be  made  Generals  in  a  short  time.  The  Java 
Games  are  too  slow  and  lack  courage,  as  I  have  seen  a  number  start 
at  the  first  puncture  of  the  STEEL.  Sportsmen  have  to  come  for 
Sumatra  Pheasant  Games  on  all  important  occasions." 

Game  eggs  are  not  only  of  extra  weight,  as  Mr.  Butters  truly 
remarks,  but  they  are  decidedly  richer  than  any  other  eggs.  One 
Game  egg  is  worth  two  co-mmon  eggs  of  the  same  size,  either  for  eat- 
ing or  culinary  purposes — so  far  do  the  Game  eggs  excel  all  others,  both 
as  to  flavor  and  nutritious  qualities.  The  specific  gravity  of  an  egg, 
as  well  a-s  a  fowl,  determines  its  relative  qualities. 

No  better  fowls,  either  for  the  "  spit,"  or  the  "  pit,"  than  the 
Sumatra  Pheasant  Games,  are  to  be  found.  A  larger  breed  of  Games 
is  produced  by  crossing  the  Sumatra  Pheasant  Game  cock,  with  the 
Wild  Indian  Game  hen,  or  vice  versa.  They  are  called,  and  very 
appropriately,  "The  Game  Cock  of  the  Wilderness,"  and  are  of 
exquisite  beauty  and  indomitable  courage. 

With  regard  to  the  Java  Games,  I  must  beg  leave  to  differ  from  my 
friend  Butters.  The  PURE  Java  Games,  are  likewise  "Pheasant" 
Games,  having  a  head  and  tail  like  the  Suroatras,  and  only  differ  in 
size  and  color.  The  Javas,  as  well  as  the  Sumatras,  are  fast  and  stal- 
wort  fighters — in  fact,  the  Javas  are  only  a  VARIETY  of  the  Sumatras 
— the  BREED  is  the  same. 

JOHN  C.  BENNETT. 

Fort  des  Moines,  Polk  Co.,  Iowa. 

The  following  letter  is  from  Geo.  A.  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Geo., 
one  of  the  most  extensive  fowl  fanciers  of  the  South  : 

,  Geo.,  April  19,  1852. 

I  hope  you  will  not  think  me  fickle  when  I  tell  you  that  I  recant 
my  former  opinion  in  regard  to  the  fighting  qualities  of  the  Sumatra 
Pheasant  Games.  I  saw  my  blue  cock  tried,  and  pass  through  the 
'fiery  ordeal'  that  happens  to  the  lot  of  few  cocks  to  pass  through. 
He  fought  a  cock  that  I  will  not  say  was  the  best  in  Georgia,  but  he 
was  more  than  an  average,  and  one  that  could  make  a  good  fight  any 
time.  He  was  two  and  a  half  years  old,  and  in  good  righting  order, 
and  was  a  very  fast  fighter.  The  Sumatra  got  a  bad  cut  on  the  hip 
before  they  had  exchanged  a  half-dozen  blows,  which  made  him  stag- 
ger, and  he  could  not  stand  firm  on  his  feet.  The  next  cut  was  in  the 
wing,  that  did  not  injure  him  much.  The  next  was  in  the  neck,  but 
not  very  deep.  The  next  in  the  body.  All  this  time  his  antagonist 
had  not  received  a  scratch,  and  was  thumping  him  away  on  all  sides, 
and  at  every  pass  doing  the  Sumatra  some  damage,  which  now  showed 
signs  of  being  worsted,  and  when  pitted,  would  make  an  attempt  to 
get  to  the  other  cock,  and  fall.  The  Georgia  cock  would  then  go  and 
stand  upon  him — sometimes  on  his  neck,  for  five  minutes  at  a  time. 
The  Sumatra  would  get  from  tinder  him,  exchange  a  few  blows,  then 
fall  again.  At  this  crisis  the  Sumatra  got  a  cut  at  the  lower  edge  of 
the  right  eye,  and  ranging  towards  the  neck.  It  was  with  a  &£ 
gaff,  and  went  more  than  half  the  length  in,  and  being  so  fast  that  the 
point  bent  in  pulling  it  out.  I  thought  it  was  all  over  with  him,  but 


102  GAME    FOWLS. 

he  then  appeared  to  fight  better,  and  with  more  determination  than 
before.  He  now  received  a  cut  in  his  left  wing,  entering  the  first 
ioint,  and  ranging  up  towards  the  butt,  cutting  the  large  artery,  I 
presume,  fro-m  the  quantity  of  blood  that  flowed.  The  next  cut  was 
in  the  back  part  of  the  head,  ranging  down.  He  received  several 
other  cuts  in  the  neck,  but  not  very  deep.  He  was  now  blind  in  the 
right  eye,  lame  in  one  hip,  and  the  blood  dripping  from  him.  His 
left  eye  was  half  closed,  and  he  could  scarcely  see  his  opponent,  but 
was  eager  to  get  at  him.  The  Georgia  cock  now  began  to  tire,  but 
kept  fighting.  The  Sumatra  finally  got  to  him,  and  gave  him  a  despe- 
rate blow,  cutting  him  in  the  breast  The  gaff  did  not  hang,  and  ho 
was  knocked  three  feet.  He  was  brought  to  the  pit  again,  and  the 
Sumatra  cut,  him  through  the  right  eye  and  into  the  head,  which  closed 
the  battle.  The  cock  died  in  a  short  time.  The  Sumatra  was  com- 
pletely cut  up,  and  I  never  before  saw  a  cock  stand  one-half  the  cut- 
ting and  fatigue  that  he  did. 

It  appears  that  the  Sumatra  Pheasant  hens  are  as  pugnacious 
as  the  cocks.  Mr.  J.  A.  C.  Butters,  the  original  importer  of 
this  breed,  in  speaking  of  one  of  them  sold  to  Dr.  Bennett, 
says : 

"  I  would  fight  her  with  gaffs  against  any  hen  in  the  world  of  her 
own  weight.  She  never,  to  my  knowledge,  was  whipped  but  once,  and 
then  by  her  mother.  On  one  occasion,  she  fought  her  way  through  a 
flock  of  thirty  Cochins  and  Shanghaes,  whipping  both  cocks  and 
hens," 

The  following  extracts  from  the  most  distinguished  fowl  fan- 
ciers in  this  country,  will  give  further  proofs  of  the  estimation 
in  which  they  are  held : 

PROVIDENCE,  Oct.  8th,  1852. 

Friend  Bennett, — The  Sumatra  Games  came  safe  to  hand,  and  I  am 
compelled  to  say,  that  I  never  saw  such  beautiful  and  ornamental 
Game  fowls,  and  I  think  I  hafte  seen  nearly  all  varieties.  That  splen- 
did, rich,  dark,  green  bronze  color,  I  never  saw  on  any  fowl  before. 
No  amateur  ought  to  be  without  those  truly  splendid  and  ornamental 
birds.  For  my  taste,  they  cast  all  other  Games,  for  beauty  of  plumage, 
far  in  the  shade.  If  you  can  spare  me  another  pullet  I  shall  be  pleased. 
Yours  truly,  JOHX  GILES. 

These,  I  think,  are  among  the  best  of  all  the  Games,  for  fighting 
purposes.  They  have  strength,  activity,  fleetness,  perseverance,  and 
endurance ;  are  also  desperate,  as  no  cutting  from  a  gaff  will  make 
them  flinch.  They  are  kind  to  human  species,  but  the  death  to 
all  fowl  kind.  Cocks,  hens  and  chicks,  all  fight.  I  think  them  the 
handsomest  of  all  the  fowl  kind.  They  have  a  wild  look,  brilliant 
plumage,  and  the  neatest  build  imaginable.  The  hens  are  blue,  with 
bills  and  legs  the  same  color  as  the  cocks.  Are  an  excellent  fowl  for 
the  table,  their  flesh  being  delicately  white.  Their  laying  qualities 
are  good,  and  their  sitting  and  nursing,  faultless.  Their  egg?,  though 
Binall,  are  a$ heavy  as  those  of  the  larger  kinds  of  hens.  The  shell  is 


GAME    FOWLS.  103 

mahogany  color.  They  are  restless,  and  cannot  be  confined,  and  can 
out-scratch  any  fowl  I  ever  saw.  They  came  from  Angler  Point, 
Sumatra — the  imported  ones  being  from  wild  ones,  caught  in  the 
woods.  I  think  they  will  not  degenerate  by  in-and-in  breeding.  In 
weight,  they  vary  from  four  and  a  half  to  six  pounds,  and  are  so 
compactly  built,  as  to  deceive  any  one  not  acquainted  with  their  make. 

GEO.  A.  SMITH. 

The  peculiarities  of  Sumatra  Game  fowls,  are  as  follows:  They 
have  no  wattles,  and  scarcely  any  comb,  and  require  little  or  no  trim- 
ming, to  fit  them  for  the  pit.  The  cock  in  my  yard,  which  is  now  six 
months  old,  stands  and  carries  himself  loftier  than  most  chickens  at 
eighteen  months  old,  all  the  time  watching,  as  if  alarmed.  His  gene- 
ral appearance  is  wild.  The  hen,  (an  imported  one,)  is  a  perfect 
beauty.  All  who  have  seen  the  Sumatra  Games,  consider  them  the 
handsomest  and  most  desirable  ones  they  have  ever  seen. 

As  to  their  laying  qualities,  I  would  say — the  very  day  I  received 
the  hen,  July  3d,  she  began  to  lay,  and  continued,  until  she  had  laid 
twenty  eggs,  without  missing  a  day ;  I  then  allowed  her  to  sit.  She 
raised  me  eleven  chickens,  and  proved  herself  a  good  sitter  and  nurse. 
As  fighters,  they  stand  unrivaled,  allowing  themselves,  (as  I  am  credi- 
bly informed,)  to  be  cut  in  pieces,  without  yielding.  They  are  also 
fast  fighters. 

ALBERTUS  WmcH. 

,  Penn. 

I  received  a  pair  of  Sumatra  Pheasant  Game  fowls,  from  Dr.  Ben- 
nett, both  young  and  promising,  which,  for  symmetry  of  form  and 
brilliancy  of  plumage,  cannot  be  surpassed.  The  color  of  a  dark, 
glossy  green  ;  the  feathers  on  the  neck  of  the  pullet,  of  a  bronze  hue; 
their  eyes,  remarkably  brilliant  and  piercing ;  necks,  long  and  serpen- 
tine ;  comb,  serrated,  and  scarcely  any  wattles ;  legs  and  bills,  black  ; 
body,  firm  and  compact.  The  carriage  of  mine  is  noble  and  majestic. 
I  have  found  them  to  be  very  small  eaters,  and  much  attached  to  each 
other,  but  on  the  introduction  of  a  strange  cock  into  their  yard,  they 
will  attack  and  fight  fowls  thrice  their  size,  and  weight.  I  do  not 
allow  mine  to  fight,  however,  as  they  are  too  young.  I  am  much 
pleased  with  them,  and  would  not  part  with  them  for  any  considera- 
tion. _ 

JOHN  K  A,  KOBE. 

,  Penn. 

The  principal  breeders  of  the  Sumatra  Pheasant  Game  fowls 
in  this  country,  at  present,  are  J.  C.  Bennett,  Fort  des  Moines, 
Iowa,  Richard  Blaisdell,  Esq.,  Great  Falls,  N.  H.,  and  myself. 


104 


GAME    FOWLS. 


SUMATRA      GAMES. 

This  io  a  breed  much  resembling  the  Sumatra  Pheasant 
Games,  yet  having  distinct  characteristics,  and  known  simply 
as  the  "  Sumatra  Games,"  without  the  term  "  Pheasant." 
They  are  not  considered  equal  in  the  qualities  that  constitute  a 
good  Game  fowl,  to  the  Sumatra  Pheasant  Games.  The  fol- 
lowing description  of  them,  by  Mr.  S.  B.  Morse,  Jr.,  is  taken 
from  the  "  New  England  Farmer : " 

"  The  progenitors  of  this  race  of  fowls  were,  several  years  since, 
brought  from  the  Island  of  Sumatra.  The  utmost  care  has  been  used 
to  prevent  the  possibility  of  a  cross  in  this  stock. 

This  breed  of  Game  fowls  is,  in  my  opinion,  equal,  if  not  superior 


GAME    FOWLS.  105 

to  any  other  in  the  ISTew  England  States.  The  hens  are  good  sitters 
and  nurses,  and,  for  the  size  of  the  fowls,  produce  large  eggs.  The 
cocks  have  a  brilliant  plumage,  and  the  hackles  on  the  neck  are  very 
long  and  full-feathered,  making  a  "  perfect  shawl."  The  body  is  round 
and  plump ;  the  neck  is  long  and  powerful ;  the  breast,  full ;  the 
wings  are  long,  and  cover  the  thighs ;  the  beak  is  hooked  and  stout ; 
the  thighs  are  large  and  sinewy,  and  well  set  to  the  body ;  the  legs 
are  dark-colored  and  long;  and  the  claws  are  strong,  and,  with  the 
legs,  exhibit  great  muscular  power.  The  belly  is  compact,  so  as  not 
to  interfere  with  the  agility  of  the  fowls,  which  they  possess  to 
a  remarkable  degree.  The  tail  is  very  long,  and  by  its  beauty  adds 
much  to  the  appearance  of  these  birds.  The  chickens  are  easily 
reared,  and  bear  the  climate  of  New  England  as  well  as  those  pro- 
duced by  any  other  stock. 

The  flesh  of  the  Game  fowl  is  considered  by  all  persons  who  have 
eaten  it,  as  equal,  if  not  superior,  to  that  of  other  breeds,  and,  for  the 
size  of  the  fowl,  there  is  less  offal  than  in  any  other. 

For  the  incubation  of  eggs  of  rare  and  valuable  breeds  of  fowls, 
Game  hens  are  to  be  preferred  to  all  others.  Amateurs  and  fanciers 
will  find  it  much  to  their  advantage  to  employ  Game  hens  as  incuba- 
tors of  the  eggs  of  the  different  breeds  of  Bantam  fowls,  as  they  are 
not  so  heavy  or  so  clumsy  as  to  break  the  eggs,  and,  at  the  same  time, 
are  most  careful  mothers,  rarely  or  never  injuring  their  chicks  by  their 
impetuosity,  as  hens  of  other  breeds  sometimes  do.  Game  hens  will 
most  fearlessly  attack  cats  and  dogs  in  defence  of  their  chicks ;  and  I 
have  known  instances  where  full-grown  rats  have  been  killed  by  them. 

Many  persons  are  deterred  from  keeping  Game  fowls  by  the  reputa- 
tion the  cocks  have  acquired,  unjustly,  I  think,  of  being  quarrelsome. 
The  true  bred  Game  cock  is  not,  my  experience  teaches  me,  quarrel- 
some or  vindictive.  He  resents  the  interference  of  any  cock  with  his 
vested  rights  and  privileges,  and  requires  an  instantaneous  apology 
for  an  insult,  and,  if  his  antagonist  demurs,  a  battle  is  commenced 
without  the  least  delay.  If  the  opposing  cock  retreats,  the  true  Game 
does  not  follow,  but  with  a  loud,  exulting,  and  derisive  crow,  expresses 
his  triumph ;  but  when  Game  meets  Game,  death  to  one  or  both  is 
inevitable,  as  true  Game  "  never  retreats."  This  often  occurs  at  the 
first  flirt.  I  have  known  an  instance  where  both  cocks  were  instantly 
killed  by  a  "  brain  stroke." 

For  the  rearing  of  chickens,  a  constant  and  regular  supply  of  small 
grains  is  required.  The  best  kind  is  wheat,  being  preferable  to  barley 
or  buckwheat.  Indian  corn,  of  course,  is  not  to  be  used,  on  account 
of  its  great  size.  I  do  not  approve  of  giving  to  chicks  any  moist  food, 
particularly  Indian  meal,  as  it  wTill  ferment  in  a  short  time,  and  become 
sour.  Chicks  should  not  be  compelled  to  fast.  Their  crops  are  small, 
and  the  power  of  digestion  is  so  great,  that,  if  the  food  is  not  con- 
stantly within  their  reach,  they  are  soon  exhausted  by  the  growth  of 
feathers  and  bone,  lose  their  strength,  and  death  is  the  result.  I  have 
used  the  "screenings"  of  wheat  for  feeding  chicks,  and  find  them 
quite  as  good  as  wheat,  although  costing  much  less. 
5* 


106 


GAME    FOWLS. 


SUMATRA      EBON      GAMES. 

The  Sumatra  Ebon  Game  fowls  are  very  nearly  allied  to 
the  Pheasant  Games,  I  presume,  from  the  description  given  ; 
and  what  the  particular  difference  is,  I  leave  for  Dr.  Bennett  to 
explain. 

These  celebrated  Games  being  in  possession  of  Dr.  Bennett 
only,  in  this  country,  we  must,  of  course,  look  entirely  to  him 
for  their  history,  not  being  described  in  any  of  the  works  on 


GAiLE    FOWLS.  107 

poultry,  either  in  the  United  States  or  in  Europe.  Cavillers 
may  say,  that  the  descriptions  often  given  of  particular  breeds 
of  fowls,  are  mere  advertisements  of  them  got  up  to  sell  them. 
Very  well,  suppose  that  they  are.  How  are  we  to  get  desciip- 
tions  of  fowls  unless  we  get  them  from  those,  who  have  bred 
them  ?  Every  work  on  poultry  hitherto  published,  is  filled  with 
descriptions  by  interested  parties,  in  a  great  degree; -yet  it 
should  be  the  duty  of  authors  to  state  their  own  views  and 
opinions,  when  they  are  in  contradiction  to  the  opinions  and 
descriptions  furnished  for  their  works,  and  I  shall  do  so.  The 
most  authentic  information  an  author  can  produce,  is  the  opinions 
of  various  parties — not  exclusively  his  own,  however  well 
informed  or  experienced  he  may  be.  It  is  presumed  that  gen- 
tlemen of  reputation  and  honor  will  adhere  to  the  truth,  giving 
the  bright  side,  of  course,  being  interested,  and  the  public  must 
be  the  jury  to  give  a  verdict  after  hearing  the  testimony. 

As  to  my  friend,  Dr.  Bennett,  he  is  an  enthusiastic  admirer 
of  the  feathered  tribes.  Breeding  them  is  his  element,  and  he 
is  just  the  man  to  detect  their  faults,  and  to  discover  their  good 
qualities.  He  may  use  superlatives,  on  some  occasions,  rather 
freely,  but  not  for  the  purpose  of  gain,  for  the  Doctor  does  not 
breed  fowls  for  profit — for  filthy  lucre ;  it  is  a  passion  with  him ; 
and  when  be  has  a  fine  breed,  he  oftener  presents  them  to  his 
friends  than  sells  them  to  his  customers,  and  if  the  truth  were 
known,  we  believe  he  has  given  away  more  .valuable  fowls 
within  the  last  five  years,  than  all  other  fanciers  in  the  United 
States  together. 

Hear  what  he  says  of  these  Games : 

The  portrait  at  the  head  of  this  article,  was  delineated  and  engraved 
by  J.  C.  Thompson,  Jr.,  of  Providence,  B.  I.,  and  is  an  accurate  like- 
ness. 

These  fowls  were  imported  direct  from  the  Island  of  Sumatra,  and 
are  materially  different  from  any  other  variety  of  Game  fowl  ever 
introduced  into  this  country. 

The  Sumatra  Ebon  Games  answer  to  the  following  description : 
Head,  very  broad,  with  a  powerful  beak ;  eyes,  small,  fiery,  and  snaky, 
with  a  red  iris,  and  jet  black  pupil;  comb,  very  large,  single,  deeply 
serrated,  and  erect,  extending  much  farther  back  on  the  head  thau 
that  of  the  Pheasant  Games,  and  much  resembling  that  of  the  Black 
Spanish ;  wattles,  large  and  pendulous ;  hackles  of  the  loins  and 
neck,  very  long,  and  exceedingly  brittle  *  tail,  very  long  and  flowing, 
with  abundant  plume  and  sickle  feathers  sweeping  the  ground,  and  in 
this  respect  more  closely  resembling  the  Bird  of  Paradise  than  any 
other  of  the  gallinaceous  race ;  body,  compact,  and  unusually  sym- 
metrical ;  color,  black,  or  a  greenish  black,  of  a  metal  luster ;  legs, 


108  GAME    FOWLS. 

sinewy,  with  a  powerful  thigh,  like  the  Pheasant  Games,  and  frequently 
a  pea  comb,  like  other  well  bred  Games.     In  further  describing  these 
rare  birds,  I  will  introduce  some  extracts  from  letters,  and  other 
notices. 
Dr.  Eben.  Wight  writes  me  as  follows : 

"BOSTON,  Mass.,  April  30,  1852. 

"Dear  Doct., — I  have  been  down  to  the  ship  Propontis,  Lewis 
Wharf,  and  have  seen  the  Sumatra  Ebon  Game  fowls.  Captain  Bar- 
stow,  brother  to  the  one  who  wrote  you,  says  he  took  about  fifty 
cocks  on  board  at  starting,  and  always  kept  the  one  that  beat,  till  all 
are  dead  except  this  fellow ;  he  finished,  or  nearly  finished,  all  of 
them,  when  they  were  handed  over  to  the  cook.  He  was  regularly 
gaffed  for  battle.  The  cock  and  hen  are  both  quite  young.  Plumage 
of  the  cock,  dark-red  hackles,  and  a  few  dark-red  feathers  over  the 
back ;  body,  black,  or  greenish  black ;  tail  feathers,  very  long  and 
greea ;  legs,  dark.  The  hen  is  black,  and  of  good  plumage,  with  dark 
legs. 

"  In  haste,  truly  yours,  E.  WIGHT." 

Mr.  Barstow,  brother  of  the  Captain,  says : 

BOSTON,  May  1st,  1852. 

"  Dr.  Bennett, — Dr.  Eben  Wight  will  give  you  a  description  of  the 
Games,  which  he  can  do  better  than  myself. 

"They  were  imported  in  the  ship  Propontis,  Captain  Barstow, 
which  arrived  last  week,  and  were  bought  at  the  west  coast  of  Sumatra, 
by  the  Captain. 

"  There  cannot  be  any  doubt  as  to  the  breed  of  the  fowls,  as  they 
were  hatched  on  the  coast,  bought  there  by  the  present  owner,  and 
brought  from  there  in  the  ship  Propontis,  from  which  they  were  taken 
this  morning,  by  Wentworth's  Express,  for  you. 

"  Yours,  <fec.,  GEO.  T.  BARSTOW." 

Mr.  Balch  writes  as  follows : 

"DEDHAM,  Mass.,  July  6,1852. 

"  J.  C.  BENNETT,  M.  D. — Dear  Sir :  My  present  engagements  are  such 
that  it  is  impossible  for  me  to  give  you  a  detailed  account  of  the  Game 
fowls  you  purchased  of  Captain  Barstow.  I  saw  them  on  board  the 
ship  Propontis,  and  offered  a  large  price  for  them,  but  was  informed 
that  they  were  under  refusal  for  you ;  he,  therefore,  could  not  part 
with  them  till  he  should  hear  from  you. 

"From  \he  history  my  friend,  Captain  Barstow,  gave  me  of  the 
birds,  I  am  inclined  to  think  they  are  the  best  Games  imported  for 
many  a  day. 

"  I  rather  rejoice  that  you  were  the  successful  purchaser,  for  they 
will  now  be  fully  distributed.  Had  I  been  so  fortunate  as  to  have 
secured  them,  I  should  have  presented  them  to  a  friend  at  the  South, 
where  I  am  sure  they  would  have  out-shone  any  they  have. 

"  Yours,  truly,  B.  W.  BALCII. 

The  Great  Falls  Journal,  of  May  6th,  in  speaking  of  the  Sumatra 
Ebon  Game  fowl,  observes : 


GAME    FOWLS.  109 

"  We  have  this  week  been  shown  a  pair  of  these  fowls,  which  were 
brought  direct  from  the  Island  of  Sumatra,  India,  in  the  ship  Propontis, 
Captain  Barstow,  and  were  purchased  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Bennett,  at  a  great 
price.  The  plumage  of  these  fowls  is  elegant,  that  of  the  cock  being 
a  greenish  black,  with  long,  green  tail  feathers,  and  a  few  dark  red 
feathers  over  the  back.  The  tail  feathers  of  this  bird  now  drag  upon 
the  ground  when  he  stands  erect,  notwithstanding  he  has  undergone 
the  hardships  of  a  seven  months'  voyage,  which  is  every  way  calcu- 
lated to  strip  him  of  his  plumage.  He,  according  to  the  testimony  of 
the  Captain,  actually  fought  and  killed  fifty  cocks  while  on  his  pas- 
sage from  Sumatra  to  Boston.  He  was  regularly  gaffed  for  the  battle, 
and  always  cut  down  his  antagonist,  though  many  a  victory  was 
hardly  contested  at  the  point  of  the  steel.  The  hen  is  of  good 
plumage,  and  has  laid  from  the  time  of  her  embarkation  at  Sumatra, 
up  to  the  present,  with  short  intervals.  These  birds  are  said,  by 
excellent  judges,  to  be  the  'FASTEST'  Game  fowls  now  known,  and 
evidently  STAND  AT  THE  HEAD  OF  THE  GAME  RACE  as  to  beauty,  strength, 
power  of  endurance,  prowess,  and  speed.  They  never  prove  craven, 
or  cower  at  the  steel  cut  of  the  enemy." 

The  editor  of  the  New  En'gland  Cultivator,  in  an  article  in  that 
paper,  says: 

"We  had  an  opportunity,  a  few  days  since,  to  examine  the  fine 
Game  birds  of  Dr.  J.  C.  Bennett,  of  Great  Falls,  N.  H.,  and  we  were 
highly  pleased  with  his  stock,  which  is  the  choicest,  probably,  in  its 
way,  now  to  be  found  in  the  Northern  States. 

"  Dr.  B.  is  an  enthusiastic  fancier,  and  has  bred  his  fowls,  experi- 
mentally and  scientifically,  for  several  years.  He  has  appended  some 
names  to  his  birds,  for  the  purpose  of  distinguishing  one  importation 
from  another,  which  we  do  not  fancy  altogether ;  but  that  he  has 
some  superb  specimens  of  Game  fowls,  there  is  no  question. 

" His  Sumatra  Games — comprising  the  'Pheasant'  Game,  and  the 
'  Ebon '  Game — are  among  the  most  graceful  and  beautiful  of  all  the 
domestic  fowls  we  ever  yet  saw,  and  we  do  not  doubt  that  they  are 
all  that  they  are  represented.  He  claims  that  they  are  '  fast '  fighters, 
and  of  sure  endurance  and  bottom. 

"Two  old  breeders  (imported,)  that  he  showed  us,  were  p«--  '  "n~ 
fine  and  promise  to  be  a  superb  variety — of  dark,  rich  plum^e-,  / 
carriage,  large  armed,  and  exceedingly  e"rect  and  spirited. 

"  Dr.  B.  has  bred  the  Games  very  extensively  during  the  last  and 
present  season,  and  our  Southern  friends  who  desire  such  birds  for 
'  pit  or  spit,'  can  obtain  choice  ones  on  application  as  above." 

If  my  friend  will  inform  me  how  to  distinguish  one  breed  from 
another,  (not  one  importation  from  another,)  without  "names"  I  will 
be  under  many  obligations.  I  do  not  wish  to  multiply  " names"  but 
when  new  breeds  are  imported,  they  must  be  NAMED,  or  they  cannot 
be  identified  with  sufficient  precision. 

The  opinion  of  such  men  as  Dr.  Wight  and  Mr.  Balch,  is  always 
entitled  to  respectful  consideration,  for  though  they  may  occasionally 
err  in  judgment,  like  other  men,  yet  it  is  admitted  on  all  hands  they 
are  able,  competent,  and  most  excellent  judges. 


HO  GAME    FOWLS. 

The  Ebon  Games  are  called  by  the  natives  of  Sumatra,  "  Malay- 
Games,"  the  best  samples  of  which  are  found  at  Palembang,  Padang, 
and  Bencoolen ;  likewise,  at  Samarang  and  Bally,  in  Java;  and 
Singapore,  in  Malacca. 

The  cross  between  the  Sumatra  Ebon  Games,  and  the  Sumatra 
Pheasant  Games,  is  beautiful  in  the  extreme;  and  either  of  the 
Sumatra  breeds — the  Pheasant  or  the  Ebon — cross  admirably  with  the 
English,  Irish,  or  Chinese  Games,  adding  greatly  to  the  beauty  and 
strength  of  the  three  latter  breeds,  and  to  the  SIZE  of  the  two  former. 

As  the  "  SIAMESE  PENCILED  GAMES  "  are  perfectly  represented  by 
the  above  engraving  of  the  Sumatra  Ebon  Games,  and  differ  from 
them  only  in  color  of  plumage  and  size  of  body  and  comb,  it  is  deemed 
more  appropriate  to  describe  them  here.  The  Siamese  Penciled 
Games  are  most  beautifully  penciled  in  every  feather,  as  if  with  the 
most  exquisite  touch  of  a  master  painter.  The  coloring  is  equal  to 
the  "  Pintado  "  or  Guinea  fowl,  each  feather  vieing  with  the  others 
in  the  surpassing  beauty  of  its  tints ;  and  this  breed  of  Games  might 
with  great  propriety  be  called  the  "  gallinaceous  Pintado,"  for  it  is 
really  such. 

The  Siamese  Penciled  Game  cock  is  from  a  pound  to  a  pound  and 
a  half  heavier  than  the  Sumatra  Ebon  Game  cock,  and  has  a  much 
smaller  comb ;  in  all  other  respects,  excepting  color,  they  exactly 
resemble  each  other. 

These  fowls  are  obtained  at  Concoa  and  Convot,  on  the  Gulf  of 
Siam,  and  are  highly  valued  for  their  beauty  and  intrinsic  worth. 

I  should  not  consider  my  Game  stock  complete  without  this  valuable 
and  unique  breed.  As  yet,  there  are  but  few  in  the  country. 

J.  C.  BENNETT. 


JAVA     PHEASANT     GAMES. 

The  besfc  stock  of  these  beautiful  Game  birds  was  imported  by 
Capt.  Palmer.  One  of  the  imported  cocks  was  of  a  silver-grey  color, 
with  white  legs,  and  weighed  between  eight  and  nine  pounds ;  the 
other  imported  cock  was  of  a  blood-red  color,  with  yellow  legs,  and 
weighed  between  seven  an<J  eight  pounds.  Some  of  the  hens  were 
speckled,  others  of  a  quail-color,  or  exquisitely  penciled,  like  the 
Imperial  Chinese  fowls  of  the  1848  importation;  and  others  were 
blue,  and  some  of  a  dun  color.  They  have  the  pea-comb,  and  in 
general  aspect,  exactly  resemble  the  Sumatra  Pheasant  Games,  and 
are  well  represented  by  the  same  engraving.  Iso  Game  fowls  in  this 
country  were  able  to  stand  before  these  two  imported  Java  cocks — 
fast,  wary  and  unyielding ;  the  longer  they  fought,  the  better  they 
fought,  and  with  constantly  increasing  ferocity.  My  stock  is  from 
both  of  the  above  named  imported  cocks,  and  the  imported  hens,  pro- 
cured for  me  by  Solomon  H.  Austin,  Esq.,  from  whom  I  have  the  fore- 
going facts.  Mr.  Austin  is  an  acquaintance  of  Capt.  Palmer's,  and 
was  enabled  to  obtain  the  best  of  this  blood  for  me. 

In  New  England  we  were  never  able  to  obtain  fowls  of  the  size  or 


GAME    FOWLS.  Ill 

weight  of  the  imported  stock,  in  consequence  of  the  rigor  of  "the 
climate,  but  at  Fort  des  Moines,  Iowa,  1  hope  to  get  the  size,  as  well 
as  the  courage,  and  I  am  positive  it  can  be  done  in  the  balmy  climate 
of  the  South.  I  shall  take  the  first  opportunity  to  supply  my  friend 
T.  B.  Miner,  Esq.,  of  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  with  some  of  the  best  of  thia 
stock  to  add  to  his  most  magnificent  collection  of  the  gallinaceous  race. 

The  hucksters  of  Boston  have  injured  the  reputation  of  these  superb 
Games,  in  some  sections,  by  palming  off  half-bloods  for  the  genuine 
stock  ;  but  the  pure  bloods  never  fail  to  give  perfect  satisfaction,  both 
as  to  beauty  of  plumage  and  stalwart  Game  qualities.  They  are 
equal  to  any  Games  in  the  world,  either  for  the  "pit"  or  the  "spit." 

J.  C.  BENNETT. 

Fort  des  Moines,  Iowa. 

The  following  is  an  extract  from  a  letter  from  from  S.  H. 
Austin,  Esq.,  of 'Great  Falls,  N.  H. : 

Capt.  Palmer  imported  some  of  the  largest  Java  Game  fowls  I  ever 
saw.  I  will  mention  one.  afterwards  owned  by  Mr.  Henry  Angel, 
that  weighed  from  eight  and  a  half  to  nine  pounds.  He  won 
more  than  seventy-five  battles,  to  my  knowledge,  and  was  never 
whipped,  but  at  last  got  both  his  eyes  cut  out.  He  was  taken  from 
the  pit,  and  kept  blind  for  some  time,  and  afterwards  they  killed  him 
and  stuffed  his  skin. 


112  GAME    FOWLS. 

WILD      INDIAN      MOUNTAIN      FOWL. 

I  have  recently  received  a  trio  of  these  beautiful  semi-Game 
fowls  from  Dr.  Bennett's  splendid  stock,  and  have  given  them 
out  to  be  bred  for  me,  not  having  room  for  them,  so  extensive 
is  my  collection  of  the  various  breeds.  The  gentleman  having 
them  in  charge,  reports  them  to  be  excellent  layers.  He  says 
I  may  "  crack  them  up  "  as  equal  to  anything  in  the  world : 


WILD      INDIAN      MOUNTAIN      FOWL. 

The  fowls  portrayed  in  this  engraving,  are  owned  by  A.  Yerloin  de 
Gruy,  Esq.,  of  New  Orleans,  and  are  accurate  likenesses  from  life. 
They  were  imported  and  introduced  into  the  United  States  by  Capt. 
Thompson  and  Mr.  Stockbridge,  for  Bower  and  Estes,  of  whom  I  had 
my  original  stock.  My  own  stock,  as  well  as  that  of  T.  B.  Miner, 
Esq.,  of  Clinton,  N.  T.,  is  identical  with  that  of  Mr.  De  Gruy. 

These  are  a  very  rare  kind  of  Indian  fowl,  and  command  admira- 
tion from  all  who  behold  them.  They  very  closely  resemble  the 


GAME    FOWLS  113 

Wild  Indian  Game  fowl  in  most  respects — a  noticeable  difference  is, 
however,  observed,  in  their  being  heavily  muffled,  and  of  a  larger  size. 
With  these  exceptions,  they  appear  to  be  precisely  the  same  fowls. 
The  hen  of  my  imported  stock  weighed  seven  pounds  when  one  year 
old,  but  the  cock,  though  not^weighed  by  me,  I  should  judge  did  not 
exceed  a  pound  and  a  half  more. 

The  plumage  of  these  birds  is  dark  and  glossy,  and  the  feathers  lay 
remarkably  close  to  the  body,  and  they,  like  the  Wild  Indian  Games, 
appear  to  be  much  smaller  than  is  indicated  by  the  actual  weight. 
The  head  of  the  male  bird  is  generally  ornamented  with  a  comb  exactly 
resembling  a  ripe  strawberry,  transversely  fixed,  though  occasionally 
the  comb  is  "roseate;"  some  have  pea-combs.  The  wattles  are  want- 
ing, but  in  lieu,  between  where  the  wattles  appear  in  other  breeds,  is  to 
be  found  a  small  dew-lap,  covered  by  the  muffler.  The  females  have 
rose-combs  and  verv  small  wattles.  The  neck  is  long  and  serpent-like, 
the  eyes  are  large,  and  in  fact,  the  whole  head  is  above  the  ordinary  size. 
The  beak  is  of  extraordinary  strength,  and  hooked  like  that  of  the 
Eagle — the  upper  mandible  projecting  and  curving  over  the  lower  ; 
indeed,  the  beak  and  cervical  contour  so  remarkably  resemble  that 
noble  bird,  that  they  are  frequently  called  "The  Great  Indian  Eagle 
Fowl."  They  were  imported  via  Calcutta,  and  were  originally  a  wild 
fowl  from  the  Himmalaya  mountains,  in  India — hence  their  name 
"The  Wild  Indian  Mountain  Fowl." 

The  wings  are  short,  like  most  of  the  large  Asiatic  fowls,  and  the 
hackles  and  general  plumage  are  unusually  brilliant.  They  are  semi- 
fan-tailed,  but  their  plume  feathers  are  shorter  than  is  usual  for  Game 
fowls.  Their  legs  are  dark  and  smooth,  and  the  under  part  of  the 
foot  is  yellow.  The  flesh  of  these  birds  is  white  and  succulent,  and 
the  fibre  is  much  finer  than  in  any  other  large  fowl — much  like  that 
of  the  partridge. 

For  the  table,  they  are  the  fowls,  by  far  surpassing  every  other 
large  breed  in  the  savory  quality  of  their  flesh. 

These  birds  are  remarkable  for  their  belligerent  and  semi-game 
qualities.  The  cocks  are  ferocious  in  aspect  and  disposition,  and  the 
hens  seem  to  share  in  their  propensities  for  battle.  For  power  and 
prowess  they  are  unsurpassed,  but  they  are  not  what  cockers  call 
"  fast  fighters."  Ordinarily,  however,  they  are  both  very  peaceable 
inhabitants  of  the  barn-yard,  but  on  the  introduction  of  strange  fowls 
to  the  roost,  they  are  aroused  to  a  fearful  pitch  of  excitement. 

The  Wild  Indian  Mountain  fowls  are  not  Game,  as  some  suppose, 
though  at  mature  age  they  fight  ferociously,  but  it  is  for  the  "  spit," 
and  not  for  the  "  pit,"  that  these  birds  are  sp  eagerly  sought ;  and  it 
is  certain  that  there  is  no  more  desirable  Asiatic  bird  for  the  poultry 
yard  than  these.  Extra  fine  fleshed,  good  layers,  remarkably  unique, 
and  surpassingly  beautiful. 

Occasionally  these  most  magnificent  fowls  are  variegated  in  color. 

A.  Verloin  de  Gruy,  Esq.,  of  New  Orleans,  La.,  T.  B.  Miner,  Esq., 
of  Clinton,  N.  Y.,  and  Rev.  N.  S.  Smith,  of  Buffalo,  N.  Y.,  who  have 
these  birds  in  perfection,  are  all  very  careful  breeders,  and  may  be 
relied  upon  for  the  genuine  stock  in  its  purity, 

J.  C.  BENNETT. 

Fort  des  Moines.  Iowa. 


114  GAME    FOWLS. 

Mr.  De  Gruy,  of  New  Orleans,  has,  it  is  said,  the  most 
extensive  and  valuable  stock  of  poultry  that  is  kept  at  the 
South,  and  my  correspondents  from  New  Orleans  speak  in  the 
most  extravagant  terms  of  the  beauty  and  size  of  his  different 
breeds,  the  most  of  which  he  had  from  Dr.  Bennett,  or  through 
his  agency,  having  previously  been  very  severely  "  taken  in," 
by  unprincipled  breeders  at  the  North,  some  of  whom  may  be 

very  properly  termed never  mind,  the  term  is  rather 

severe,  and  I  will  spare  them. 


GAME    FOWLS. 


115 


CHINESE     ALBIN      GAMES. 

This  is  a  new  breed  among  us.  The  fowls  represented  in 
the  portraits  are  owned  by  Col.  Mark  Noble,  of  Great  Falls,  N. 
H.,  a  gentleman  who  has  devoted  much  time  to  raising  improved 
breeds  of  poultry.  Dr.  Bennett  recently  imported  a  pair  of 
this  breed,  of  which  he  says  : 

friend  Miner, — I  have  this  evening  [Thursday,  the  18th  of  Nov. 
1852,]  received  ray  new  importation  of  Chinese  Albin  Games,  from 
China,  via  San  Francisco.  They  are  unique,  and  as  white  as  alabaster. 
The  engravings  taken  of  those  belonging  to  Col.  Noble  and  myself,  at 
the  head  of  this  article,  are  exact  likenesses  of  those  of  this  importa- 
tion. All  these  have  the  snake-head  and  pea-comb,  the  fiery  eye  and 


116  GAME    FOWLS. 

the  sinewy  leg,  erect  tail,  and  rapid  motion.  The  importer,  in  a  letter 
to  me  of  November  9th,  says:  "I  forward  yon,  by  express,  the  white 
Games  imported  from  China,  via  San  Francisco.  I  send  all  I  have, 
and  you  will  be  sole  possessor  of  this  importation.  They  are  the  only 
pure  white  fowls  I  have  ever  seen,  and  they  are  good  and  TRUE  TO  THE 
DEATH,  and  you  can  rely  upon  them  confidently.  I  was  loth  to  part 
with  these  beautiful  whites,  but  when  I  make  a  promise,  I  always 
stick  to  it."  All  of  these  fowls  have  yellow  beaks,  and  a  part  of  them 
have  yellow  legs,  and  a  part  yellowish  green  legs.  The  head,  comb, 
and  wattles  are  all  smaller  than  those  of  any  other  Game  fowl.  They 
form  a  beautiful  contrast  with  the  Sumatra  Games — the  one  an  alabas- 
ter, or  snow  white,  the  other  a  blue  black,  with  green  metalic  lustre. 

As  gladiatorial  fowls,  these  whites  are  as  fine  a  breed  as  were  ever 
viewed  from  the  plaza  de  gallos.  A  celebrated  English  writer  says  of 
them,  (see  Dixon,  334,)  "The  white  Game  fowls  are,  in  the  opinion  of 
some,  the  most  chaste  and  beautiful  variety  of  all,  and  are  highly 
prized  by  thope  who  keep  them." 

In  a  letter  of  Dr.  B.  F.  Griggs,  of  Columbus,  Ga.,  dated  Sept.  llth, 
1850,  to  me,  these  fowls  are  described  as  follows: 

"My  favorite  cock  is,  perhaps,  as  fine  a  Game  as  lives.  He  was 
presented  to  me  by  destine  Pryor,  Esq.,  of  this  city,  (Columbus,  Ga.,) 
and  is  of  the  White  Chinese  Game  stock,  imported  by  Bradford 
Thompson,  the  most  successful  cock-fighter  ever  known  in  the  United 
States.  His  stock  has  been  kept  entirely  pure  and  uncontaminated. 
These  fowls  are  very  fine,  and  are  the  '  fastest '  fighters  known.  This 
one  of  mine  is  the  most  beautiful  bird  I  ever  saw.  He  is  pure  white, 
with  yellow  legs  and  bill ;  eyes  perfectly  red.  He  is  proud,  majestic, 
and  eager  for  the  fight.  I  propose  to  take  the  "Wild  Indian  Game  hen 
on  the  terms  you  propose — one  hundred  and  twenty  dollars — and 
shall  breed  her  with  this  cock.  If  you  are  willing  to  do  this,  I  shall 
want  the  hen  to  start  for  Columbus,  next  month,  by  way  of  Macon,  to 
the  care  of  my  friend,  Geo.  A.  Smith,  of  that  city. 

Respectfully,  B.  F.  GEIGGS." 

To  the  above  extract,  Dr.  Griggs  appends  the  following : 

"COLUMBUS,  Sept.'  11,  1850. 

"Da.  BENNETT — Sir:  Being  requested  by  our  friend  Griggs  to  state 
to  you  what  we  may  know  of  the  above  described  Game  cock,  we 
take  pleasure  in  recommending  him  as  being  one  of  the  very  finest 
Game  fowls  we  have  ever  seen,  and  think  there  cannot  be  a  fsaer  or  a 
better  one.  We  are  well  acquainted  with  him,  having  seen  him 
victorious  in  two  battles,  against  very  fine  cocks ;  in  one  of  these 
battles  he  killed  one  of  our  finest  Southern  cocks ;  in  the  other,  he 
killed  a  fine  Baltimore  cock,  over  his  weight.  He  is  a  beautiful  bird, 
weighing  five  pounds,  and  we  think  able  to  whip  any  other  of  that 
weight  to  be  produced. 

"  Respectfully,  "  PHILIP  PRYOE,  Columbus, 

"JAMES  REEVES,         " 
"  W.  B.  WHITHUST,  Alabama." 

The  Albin  cock  here  portrayed  was  presented  to  me  by  my  esteemed 
friend,  George  A.  Smith,  of  Macon,  Ga.,  and  the  hen  is  one  of  four 


GAME    FOWLS.  117 

which  Col.  Mark  Noble  and  myself  purchased  in  the  east.  Col. 
Noble,  of  this  place,  has  some  very  fine  stock  of  the  Chinese  Albin 
Games. 

J.  A.  C.  Butters,  in  speaking  of  these  fowls,  in  a  letter  dated  West 
Roxbury,  April  20th,  1852,  says:  "I  think  you  have,  this  season, 
bettor  hens  than  they  have  in  Georgia — far  better."  In  another  letter 
of  April  23d,  Mr.  Butters  says:  "These  are  the  most  thorough  Game 
of  any  breed  in  this  country,  and  you  are  very  fortunate  to  possess 
them,  as  you  will  have  a  distinct  breed  of  fowls  which  will  breed 
'in-and-in'  and  never  change  a  feather,  and  as  to  Game,  it  will  be. 
unsurpassed."  Mr.  Butters  is  an  amateur  breeder,  and  an  excellent 
judge  of  Games. 

My  friend,  Col.  Allen  G.  Summer,  of  Pomaria,  S.  C.,  has  lately 
received  some  splendid  specimens  of  Albin  Games,  relative  to  which, 
in  a  letter  of  June  8th,  1852,  he  says:  "I  am  breeding  some  snow 
white  Game  fowls — the  stock  imported  from  China  through  California. 
They  are  the  most  beautiful  birds  in  the  world,  and  extremely  pug- 
nacious." 

Mr.  George  P.  Burnham,  the  editor  of  the  New  England  Cultiva- 
tor, in  his  July  number,  page  209,  in  speaking  of  my  Albin  Games, 
remarks :  "  His  White  Chinese  Games,  are  also  a  superb  variety,  and 
he  claims  that  they  are  '  fast'  fighters,  and  of  sure  endurance  and  bot- 
tom." 

The  favorable  opinion  of  such  respectable  men  as  Summer,  Griggs, 
Smith,  and  Butters,  is  enough  to  establish  the  character  of  any  breed 
of  Games ;  and  I  think  those  who  fancy  white  fowls  can  find  no  better 
bloods  than  the  Chinese  Albin  Games. 

JOHN  C.  BENNETT. 


SPANISH      GAME     FOWL. 

This  fowl  is  thus  described  in  the  "  Poultry  Book,"  by  Dr. 
Bennett : 

"The  specimens  exhibited  at  our  late  Fowl  Fair,  were  deemed  the 
handsomest  of  the  kind  on  the  ground. 

"  The  cock  weighs  five  and  a  quarter  pounds,  and  the  hen,  his  mate> 
three  pounds  and  fourteen  ounces. 

"  This  is  the  kind  called  the  English  fowl  by  Buffon  and  the  French 
writers ;  it  is  more  slender  in  the  body,  the  neck,  the  bill,  and  the 
legs,  than  the  other  sorts,  and  the  colors,  particularly  of  the  cock, 
arc  very  bright  and  showy.  The  flesh  is  white,  tender  and  delicate, 
and  on  this  account,  marketable.  The  plumage  is  very  beautiful — a 
clear  dark  red,  very  bright,  extending  from  the  back  to  the  extremi- 
ties, while  the  breast  is  beautifully  black.  The  upper  convex  side  of 
the  wing  is  equally  red  and  black,  and  the  whole  of  the  tail-feathers 
black.  The  beak  is  black,  and  the  legs  are  black  also.  The  eyes 
resemble  jet  beads,  very  full  and  brilliant,  and  the  whole  contour  of 
the  head  gives  a  most  ferocious  expression. 

The  flesh  of  this  fowl  is  remarkably  fine  ;  the  egga  are  small,  and 
extremely  delicate." 


118  GAME    FOWLS. 

MEXICAN      GAME      FOWL. 

The  description  of  these  Game  fowls  is  taken  from  the  "  Old 
Colony  Memorial,"  a  paper  published  at  Plymouth,  Mass.  It  is 
from  the  pen  of  Dr.  Bennett: 

"  These  fowls  are  in  many  respects  remarkable.  The  Spanish  name 
'Gallus  Gallenos,'  or  'hen-cock,'  (Latin — Gallus  Gallinaceous,)  at 
once  introduces  us  to  their  principal  peculiarity.  The  cocks,  to  all 
intents  and  purposes,  resemble  ordinary  hens — the  only  marked  dif- 
ference being  in  the  size  of  the  comb  and  wattles.  They  are  compar- 
atively destitute  of  neck  and  rump  hackles.  The  color  is  usually 
similar  to  that  of  a  partridge  ;  the  legs  are  dark  and  smooth,  the  eyes 
lustrous,  and  the  plume  feathers  are  shorter  and  less  brilliant  than 
those  of  other  fowls. 

"  In  size,  they  compare  favorably  with  other  Game  fowls.  Their 
general  aspect  is  ferocious,  and  their  movements  are  lively  and  grace- 
ful. They  are  what  'cockers'  call  fast  fighters.  The  particular 
fowls  here  described;  are  those  obtained  by  me  from  John  Giles,  Esq., 
of  Providence,  and  Dr.  Eben  Wight,  of  Dedham,  and  are  now  owned 
by  C.  W.  Mead,  of  Chiccopee,  and  Samuel  Parker,  of  Worcester. 

"The  cock  has  been  subjected  to  the  severest  tests,  by  Mr.  Mead,  and 
found  to  evince  unflinching  courage  before  the  steel.  When  first 
imported  to  the  north,  he  would  not  breast  the  large  breeds — would 
run,  though  not  cower — but  now  in  condition,  and  acclimated,  he  will 
stand  the  steel  of  his  antagonist,  without  even  being  himself  '  heeled.' 
He  now,  like  the  Sumatra  and  Wild  Indian  Games,  will  stand  to  be 
cut  down,  without  in  the  least  flinching.  I  should  never  desire  fowls 
„  for  fighting  purposes,  but  fowls  that  will  fight,  always  have  remarkably 
fine  and  savory  flesh,  and  are  superior  to  all  others  for  the  '  spit'  as 
well  as  for  the  'pit.'  In  fact,  it  is  for  beauty,  and  the  table,  that  most 
people  prefer  the  Game  breeds. 

"  Wm.  Johnson,  Esq.,  of  Ky.,  a  very  screntinc  breeder  of  Game 
fowls,  in  writing  to  me,  on  this  subject,  observes,  '  I  am  no  cock- 
fighter,  but  I  like  a  good  horse,  a  good  gun  and  dog,  and  a  pretty 
Game  bird.  For  the  table,  they  have  no  equal  among  the  domestic 
fowls.' 

"In  speaking  of  the  Mexican  Games,  in  a  letter  of  the  12th  of 
December,  1850,  Mr.  Johnson  further  remarks: 

"  'I  read  Gen.  Waddy  Thompson's  'Recollections  of  Mexico,'  when 
it  was  first  published,  and  recollect  his  speaking  of  the  Game  cock 
Gen.  Santa  Anna  gave  him.  Some  of  our  Mexican  soldiers  brought 
home  some  cocks  from  Mexico,  but  they  won't  do.  They,  however, 
differ  from  the  cock  described  of  Waddy  Thompson's.  The  great 
requisites  in  Game  cocks,  are,  first,  courage,  and  next,  to  ~befast.  '  The 
battle  is  not  so  nrach  to  the  strong  as  to  the  swift.' 

"  The  hen  is  an  imported  Cuban  Game  fowl,  now  owned  by  Mr. 
Mead. 

"  This  breed  are  perfectly  black,  and  have  all  the  points  of  the 
best  sorts  of  Game  fowls.  Their  prowess  is  wonderful,  and  it  is  rarely 
the  case  that  one  of  them  survives  a  defeat. 


GAME    FOWLS.  119 

"  The  following  letter  from  Col.  Adam  G.  Summer,  of  S.  C.,  to  the 
author,  gives  so  ample  and  beautiful  a  description  of  this  fowl,  that 
further  comment  here  is  unnecessary  : 

"  'This  unique  variety  was  introduced  in  1844,  by  Gen.  "Waddy 
Thompson,  of  this  State,  on  his  return  from  Mexico.  It  is  a  favorite 
variety  with  the  Mexicans,  and  their  Mexican  name  is  '  Gallus  Galle- 
nos' — cock-hens — from  the  fact  that  the  male  birds  have  short,  broad 
tails,  and,  in  color  and  plumage,  the  appearance  of  the  hens  of  the 
same  variety,  differing  only  in  the  combs,  which  are  very  large  and 
erect  in  the  cocks,  and  small  in  the  hens. 

"  '  In  Mexico  they  are  fought  without  trimming,  and  the  common 
Game  cock  will  not  attack  these  hen-looking  cocks.  The  Mexican 
cock  is  generally  pheasant-colored,  with  occasional  changes  in  plumage 
from  a  light  yellow  to  a  dark  grey,  and  recently,  in  the  stock  in  Car- 
olina, there  has  been  a  tendency  to  black  tail  feathers  and  breast,  as 
well  as  an  inclination  to  grey  and  light  yellow,  and  with  a  slight 
approximation  to  red  hackles  in  some  rare  instances. 

"  '  The  majority  of  the  whole  stock,  however,  preserves  the  original 
pheasant-color.  This  variety  has  a  strong  frame,  and  the  largest  and 
most  muscular  thighs  of  any  fowl  I  have  as  yet  seen.  This  gives 
quick  power  to  fierce  action  in  fight,  and  if  not  killed  immediately, 
he  is  sure  to  be  victorious.  I  do  not  know  whether  they  will  fight 
well  in  a  cold  climate  like  yours  The  cocks  are  distinguished  by 
large  upright  combs,  strong  bills,  and  very  lustrous  eyes.  Their  legs 
vary  from  a  dirty  to  a  dark  green  color.  The  hens  differ  so  little 
from  the  cocks  that  a  description  is  unnecessary. 

"  '  They  are  as  good  layers  and  setters  as  any  other  Game  breed,  and 
are  good  nurses.  The  cock  which  was  the  progenitor  of  all  the  stock 
now  in  the  United  States,  was  presented  to  Gen.  Thompson  by  Gen. 
Santa  Anna,  just  before  he  closed  his  official  career  as  Minister  to 
Mexico,  and  was  victorioxis  in  a  large  main,  fought  by  the  famous 
cock-fighting  Mexicans.  Gen.  Thompson  sent  to  Queretaro  for  some 
hens,  and  thence  sprang  all  the  true  cock -hens  now  in  this  country. 
Those  sent  by  my  brother,  Wm.  Summer,  to  Mr.  Giles,  Dr.  Wight, 
and  Mr.  Buxton,  are  from  a  pair  presented  to  him  by  Gen.  Thomp- 
son, out  of  the  original  stock. 

"  '  Their  crosses  on  other  Game  breeds  are  highly  esteemed  here  as 
fighting  fowls,  and  their  muscular  forms  adapt  ^them  as  well  for  the 
spit  as  for  the  pit.  "Wm.  Summer  breeds  them  in  their  purest  state, 
and  regards  them  as  a  valuable  fowl  for  domestic  purposes. 

"  'A.  G.  SUMMER.' 

"  Mr.  "William  Summer,  in  a  letter  to  the  writer,  dated  July  23d, 
1850,  in  speaking  of  these  fowls,  says: 

"  '  I  had  concluded  to  send  you  a  hen  of  mine  to  make  out  the  pair, 
one  that  Gen.  Thompson  sent  me  as  particularly  fine;  though  I  say, 
in  all  sincerity  of  heart,  that  the  pair  sent  by  me  to  Mr.  John  Giles, 
was  the  best  pair  I  have  ever  bred.  You  are  fortunate  in  securing 
them  from  him,  as  they  will  give  the  very  best  representation  of  the 
breed  when  in  full  feather.  Mr.  Giles,  in  a  recent  letter,  informed  me 
that  the  cock  had  improved  very  much.' 


120  GAME    FOWLS. 

"CoL  Summer,  in  a  letter  of  July  8th,  1850,  observes: 

"  '  Santa  Anna,  or  properly  '  hen-cock,'  (Gallus  Gallenos — Spanish) 
was  brought  from  Queretaro  by  Hon.  Waddy  Thompson,  and  a  pair 
presented  to  us  by  him,  has  been  bred  pure.  I  have  their  history 
from  Gen.  Thompson.' 

"  Again,  in  the  eame  letter,  he  remarks : 

"  'I  am  no  cock-fighter,  but  keep  a  few  kinds,  just  to  have  them.  I 
never  saw  a  cock-tight  with  gaffs,  or  one  on  which  they  were  pitted. 
I  have  a  friend  who,  in  a  gentlemanly  way,  participates  in  the  sport 
held  in  our  towns  and  cities.  It  prevails  to  considerable  extent  in  the 
South,  and  I  regret  it  much.  No  bird  of  mine  shall  ever  enter  a 
sportsman's  hands.' 

"  I  regard  these  fowls  as  excellent  for  the  '  spit,'  and  they  are  as 
prolific  as  the  generality  of  Games." 

There  are  Game  fowls  known  as  "  Yankee  Games"  " Ben- 
gal Mountain  Games"  and  a  variety  of  others,  hybrids,  or 
otherwise,  that  I  do  not  consider  worthy  of-  a  particular  notice, 
especially  those  that  originated  by  crossing.  There  is  a  white 
Game  fowl  bred  in  Geo.,  which  Geo.  A.  Smith,  Esq.,  describes 
as  follows : 

"  This  fowl,  (on  good  authority,)  is  said  to  have  been  imported  from 
China,  for  Thompson,  a  celebrated  cock-fighter  of  this  State,  (Ga.) 

"Their  color  is  snow  white;  legs  and  bills,  yellow;  and  eyes,  blood 
red.  Their  general  appearance  is  very  ferocious.  Their  weight^ is 
from  four  and  a  half  to  five  and  a  half  pounds — none  larger ;  their 
wings,  large ;  tails,  full  and  flowing ;  their  walk,  proud,  and  their  dis- 
position, bad.  They  will  even  fight  men,  dogs,  cats  and  hogs,  or  any- 
thing that  comes  in  their  way.  The  cocks  cannot  be  kept  in  hearing 
distance  of  each  other,  as  they  are  sure  to  meet  and  engage  in  conflict 

"  They  are  quick  and  sure  fighters,  and  frequently  gain  the  back  of 
their  antagonist,  and  never  yield  till  separated.  They  are  very  scarce, 
those  having  them  not  being  willing  to  part  with  them." 

Mr.  Smith  says  of  a  cross  of  the  India  Game  fowls : 

"  A  cross  of  these  with  any  other  Games,  make  the  best  fowl  for 
eating  purposes,  that  I  have  ever  seen,  and  I  challenge  any  one  to  show 
as  fine  flesh  of  other  breeds,  as  I  can  of  these.  They  grow  rapidly 
also  when  young. 

"  I  weighed  one  peir  when  four  months  old.  The  cock  drew  four 
pounds  and  three  quarters,  the  pullet  two  pounds  and  a  half,  making 
seven  pounds  and  a  quarter. 

"  The  above  fowls  were  from  a  cock  five  months  old,  and  a  hen' 
eleven  months  old ;  and  chickens  from  young  fowls,  I  believe,  are 
allowed  to  be  smaller  than  from  older  ones." 

I).  Taggart,  Esq.,  of  Northumberland,  Pa.,  thus  writes  me 
on  Games  in  general : 

"  The  Game  ftrwls  have  some  points  that  are  -well  deserving  of  con 


GAME    FOWLS.  121 

sidcration.  Brilliant  in  plumage,  elegant  in  figure,  active,  powerful 
and  courageous,  it  is  no  wonder  that  for  some  hundreds  of  years  they 
have  found  patrons  among  all  orders  of  men,  from  the  prince  to  the 
pickpocket.  The  '  Artful  Dodger '  who  shares  his  garret  with  a 
favorite  fighting  cock,  is  not  more  proud  or  careful  of  him,  than  Prince 
Albert  of  his  pet  bird,  that  picks  gilt  oats  out  of  a  golden  hopper. 

"As  well  to  the  cook  as  the  cock-fighter,  do  these  fine  fowls  offer 
inducements.  In  the  whole  genus  '  gallus,'  there  is  no  variety  so 
well  formed,  so  full-breasted,  and  so  finely  fleshed.  So  remarkable  are 
they  for  symmetry  and  close-grained  muscle,  that  a  Game  cock  of  four 
or  five  pounds  weight,  can  strike  a  much  harder  blow  than  a  Chittagong 
or  Shanghae  of  ten  or  twelve  pounds.  I  have  turned  my  back  on  a 
contest  of  this  kind,  and  could  tell  when  the  Game-cock  struck,  by  the 
severity,  as  well  as  the  quick  repeated  frequency  of  the  blows." 

The  following  is  from  the  Secretary  of  the  "  South  Carolina 
Poultry  Society  : 

CHARLESTON,  S.  C.,  6th  Sept.  1851. 

Dear  Sir, — On  your  request  of  a  few  brief  facts  in  regard  to  any 
valuable  breeds  of  fowls  in  my  possession,  with  my  opinion  of  their 
merits,  I  will  first  commence  with  the  Game  fowl,  which  is  considered 
by  every  one  to  be  the  most  symmetrical,  with  their  various  hues  of 
plumage,  the  most  beautiful  and  brilliant  of  all  the  gallinaceous  tribe. 
I  have  several  varieties  of  this  breed,  but  in  my  opinion  the  Sumatra 
excels  them  all  in  brilliancy  of  plumage,  and  in  symmetry  cannot  be 
surpassed.  They  have  a  very  peculiar,  majestic  gait,  and  when  seen 
tipping  along,  they  look  as  if  they  were  swung  upon  springs.  They 
are  the  handsomest  fowls  I  have  ever  seen.  The  hen  in  my  possession 
is  very  tame,  and  of  a  very  good  disposition ;  a  good  layer  and  sitter, 
and  one  of  the  best  of  mothers,  having  already  raised  this  season  two 
broods  of  eleven  chicks  each,  and  all  of  them  are  remarkably  healthy, 
not  having  lost  one,  as  yet,  by  disease.  From  the  first  brood,  now  four 
and  a  half  months  old,  I  have  seven  pullets,  and  four  cockerels,  one 
of  which  is  selected  to  breed  from,  on  account  of  his  beautiful  plumage 
and  fine  form,  his  breast  and  lower  extremities  being  of  a  beautiful 
shining  black,  with  black  bill,  and  legs  of  a  greenish  yellow ;  neck 
and  rump  hackles  of  a  dark,  shining  green,  with  golden-colored  mar- 
gins, the  upper  convex  side  of  the  wing,  being  of  a  very  dark  red, 
approaching  to  purple  ;  also  marginated  with  bright  golden  yellow  tail 
feathers,  black,  with  clear,  dark  green  plumes,  very  long,  almost 
hiding  the  tail.  The  pullet  selected  for  him,  is  in  proportion  equally 
beautiful,  every  feather  being  marginated,  but  not  of  so  bright  a  color. 

With  regard  to  the  fighting  qualities  of  this  variety,  I  know  noth- 
ing farther  than  what  the  gentleman  says  who  imported  the  progeni- 
tors of  this  stock. 

In  April,  1847,  he  imported  a  cock  and  two  hens,  direct  from 
Anger's  Point,  Island  of  Sumatra,  India.  They  are  from  wild  stock, 
and  the  natives  call  them  Pheasants,  and  are  very  choice  of  those 
they  capture  and  breed.  They  get  them  very  domestic,  and  keep 
them  almost  exclusively  for  fighting.  He  has  never  known  them, 
6 


122  GAME    FOWL*. 

sick  or  well,  to  cower  before  the  steel,  or  quail  at  the  terrors  of  the 
pit.  They  are  fast  fighters,  and  their  other  qualities  are  the  same  aa 
other  high  bred  Games. 

My  Yankee  Game,  from  the  stock  of  John  C.  Bennett,  of  Plymouth, 
Mass.,  are  out  of  the  Wild  Indian  Game  hen,  and  the  Spanish  Game 
cock.  They  have  a  very  bold,  lofty  carriage ;  compact  and  neat  in 
appearance ;  close  and  short  feathered,  and  semi-fan-tailed,  with  a 
small  comb,  and  scarcely  any  wattles,  but  their  wings  and  tail  are 
not  so  long  as  in  some  other  varieties;  the  plumage  is  bright,  showy, 
and  captivating  in  appearance.  They  are  considered  by  many  to  be 
equal,  if  not  superior  to  the  Sumatra,  which  difference  of  opinion 
sustains  their  comparative  excellencies.  These,  and  the  Irish  grey, 
(of  which  I  have  also  some  very  fine  ones,)  being  pronounced  the 
finest  specimens  of  the  Game  variety,  by  all  who  have  seen  them. 
The  chicks  feather  slowly,  are  healthy,  and  easy  raised,  if  hatched 
eoon  in  the  season.  In  hatching  the  eggs  of  this  variety,  it  is  neces- 
sary to  watch  them  closely  after  the  eighteenth  day,  at  which  time,  I 
have  seen  the  shell  entirely  broke  off,  and  the  chick  completely 
enclosed  in  the  membrane  which  lines  it;  so  much  so,  that  it  could 
not  be  released  until  it  was  cut  with  a  pair  of  scissors.  The  chick  in 
this  case  was  not  adhering  to  the  membrane,  but  was  perfectly  free, 
using  every  effort  to  get  out,  and  had  stripped  it  longitudinally  in 
several  places,  with  the  claws. 

My  Bengal  Mountain  Game,  is  also  from  the  stock  of  Dr.  Bennett, 
out  of  the  Wild  Indian  Game  hen,  and  an  imported  Bengal  Mountain 
Game  cock;  he  weighing  eight  and  a  quarter  pounds,  being  one  of  the 
largest  of  that  species.  They  are  of  a  beautiful,  bright,  shining 
plumage,  and  in  that  respect  nearly  equal  to  the  Sumatra  ;  very  close 
and  short  feathered,  and  almost  entirely  destitute  of  comb  or  wattles  ; 
the  eyes,  very  brilliant;  the  bill,  one  of  the  most  powerful  I  have 
ever  seen ;  the  neck  is  long,  and  of  great  strength,  with  large,  long 
legs,  which  are  rather  out  of  proportion  to  the  size  of  the  body,  which 
is  small  in  comparison  to  the  height,  and  in  some  measure  make  them 
resemble  the  Malay;  they  are,  however,  very  heavy  in  proportion  to 
their  size ;  (the  specific  gravity  of  a  fowl  always  determines  its  fine- 
ness and  juiciness  of  flesh,  and  on  which  account  they  are  preferred 
as  being  the  best  for  table  use.) 

Dr.  B.  says,  these  are  fast  and  unyielding  fighters,  and  when  the 
cock  I  now  own  was  only  two  months  old,  he  fought,  on  two  several 
occasions,  for  three  hours,  and  his  ardor  could  only  be  cooled  after 
these  long  contests,  by  immersing  him  in  cold  water.  They  may  be 
unyielding  fighters,  but  in  my  opinion,  (I  have  not,  however,  tried 
them,)  they  are  too  slow ;  their  legs  being  very  large  and  heavy, 
they  lack  the  agility  of  the  other  Games.  A  smart,  well  trained 
Game  cock,  would  kill  them,  while  they  are  studying  where  to  hit. 
1  have  a  cross  produced  from  this  variety  with  other  Game  hens, 
which  are  much  improved  in  symmetry,  the  plumage  being  equally 
fine,  and  their  motions  greatly  accelerated. 

It  is  stated  in  many  of  the  works  on  poultry,  that  the  Game  breed 
are  not  the  fowls  for  the  farmer,  or  those  that  breed  for  the  market, 
on  account  of  their  quarrelsome,  pugnacious  disposition,  being  mani- 


GAME    FOWLS.  123 

fested  at  a  very  early  age,  on  which  account  but  few  can  be  rearod, 
and  that  the  same  disposition,  to  a  certain  degree,  prevails  in  the  half- 
breed. 

I  admit  this,  in  regard  to  the  half-breed,  but  not  so  with  the  pure 
bred  Game  fowl,  having  raised  them  for  several  years,  principally  for 
my  own  table  use,  and  on  account  of  .their  beautiful  plumage  and 
symmetry.  I  have  now  in  view,  while  writing  this,  eighteen  stags, 
now  about  six  months  old,  all  running  together  in  perfect  harmony, 
never  having  fought ;  but  it  will  not  continue  so  long ;  they  ai-e  now 
large  enough  for  market,  some  of  them  weighing  between  five  and 
six  pounds,  and  must  either  be  sent  there,  turned  over  to  the  cook,  or 
separated  very  soon. 

I  have  often  been  asked  what  I  do  with  these  fowls.  My  reply  is, 
I  eat  them.  They  seem  astonished  at  the  answer,  it  being  the  opinion 
of  many  that  they  are  only  raised  for  fighting,  or  that  they  are  too 
valuable  to  eat. 

I  would  not  exchange  a  fine,  fat  Game  pullet,  well  roasted,  for  any 
other  dish  of  the  feathered  tribe.  The  eggs  are  also  far  superior,  two 
of  which  are  worth  three  common  eggs  of  the  same  size,  cither  for 
eating  or  culinary  purposes  ;  and  these  two  are  equal  in  weight  to  the 
the  three.  The  specific  gravity  in  this  case,  as  in  the  fowl,  determines 
its  relative  quality. 

Yours  truly,  A.  C.  PHIN. 

The  following  graphic  description  of  a  cock  fight,  is  from         % 
Nolan's  work : 

The  only  persons  allowed  on  the  platform,  are  the  setters-to.  The 
first  I  shall  name  Nash,  the  younger;  he  was  followed  by  a  stout, 
plump,  old,  ostler-looking  man,  named  Nash,  the  elder.  This  person 
carried  a  white  bag,  containing  one  of  the  brave  birds  for  the  battle. 
The  two  men  stepped  upon  the  mat ;  the  hubbub  is  instantaneous — 
"Two  to  one  on  ISTashl" — "A  guinea  on  Nash" — Nash  a  crown!" 
The  bets  are  laid  on  the  setter-to.  From  the  opposite  side  of  the  pit, 
a  similar  procession  entered;  the  setter-to,  Fleming,  byname,  did  not 
appear  so  great  a  favorite  as  young  Nash.  The  chuckle  of  the  cock 
in  his  bag,  was  answered  deeply  and  savagely  from  the  other,  and  the 
straw  seemed  spurned  in  the  narrow  cell. 

Nash's  bag  was  carefully  untied,  and  Nash  himself  took  out  one  of 
the  handsomest  birds  I  think  I  ever  beheld  ;  he  was  a  red  and  black 
bird ;  slim,  masculine,  trimmed,  yet  with  feathers  glossy,  as  though 
the  sun  shone  only  on  his  nervous  wings ;  his  neck  arose  out  of  the 
bag,  snake-like — terrible — as  if  it  woiild  stretch  upwards  to  the  ceil- 
ing ;  his  body  followed — compact,  strong  and  beautiful ;  and  his  long, 
dark-blue,  sinewy  legs  came  forth — clean,  handsome,  shapely,  deter- 
mined, iron-like  !  The  silver  spur  was  on  each  heel,  of  an  inch  and  a 
half  in  length,  tied  on  in  the  most  delicate  and  neat  manner ;  hia 
large,  vigorous  beak,  showed  aquiline,  eagle-like;  and  his  black, 
dilating  eyes,  took  in  all  around  him,  and  shone  so  intensely  brilliant, 
that  they  looked  like  jewels ;  their  light  was  that  of  thoughtful, 
sedate,  and  savage  courage ;  his  comb  was  cut  close  ;  his  neck  trim- 
med ;  his  wings  clipped,  pointed  and  strong  ;  the  feathers  on  his  back 


124  GAME    FOWLS. 

were  of  the  very  glossiest  red,  and  appeared  to  be  the  only  ones 
which  were  left  untouched  ;  the  tail  was  docked  triangle- ways,  like  a 
hunter's.  The  gallant  bird  clucked  defiance,  and  looked  as  if  "he  had 
in  him  something  dangerous !  "  Nash  gave  him  to  Fleming,  who  held 
him  up  above  his  head,  examined  his  beak,  his  wings,  his  legs,  while 
a  person  read  to  him  a  description  of  the  bird  from  paper ;  and,  upon 
finding  all  correct,  he  delivered  the  rich,  feathered  warrior  back  to 
Nash,  and  proceeded  to  produce  his  own  bird  for  a  similar  examination. 

But  I  must  speak  of  the  senior  Nash,  the  old  man,  the  feeder. 
When  again  may  I  have  an  opportunity  of  describing  him?  and  what 
ought  a  paper  upon  cocking  be  accounted  worth,  if  it  fail  to  contain 
some  sketch,  however  slight,  of  old  Nash  ?  He  wore  a  smock-frock, 
and  was  clumsily,  though  potently  built,  his  shoulders  being  ample, 
and  of  a  rotundity  resembling  a  wool-pack ;  his  legs  were  not  equal 
to  his  bulk ;  he  was  unconversational,  almost  to  a  fault,  and  never 
made  even  the  slightest  remark  that  did  not  appertain  to  cocks  or 
cocking ;  his  narrow,  damp,  colorless  eye,  twinkled  a  cold  satisfaction 
when  a  bird  of  promise  made  good  work  on  the  mat  and  sometimes, 
though  seldom,  he  was  elevated  into  the  proffer  of  a  moderate  bet ;  but 
generally  he  leaned  over  the  rails  of  a  small  gallery,  running  parallel 
with  the  coop,  and  stooping  attentively  towards  the  pit,  watched  the 
progress  of  the  battle.  I  remarked  he  was  extremely  like  a  cock — old 
Nash's  beaked  nose,  drawn  close  down,  over  his  mouth  ;  his  red  forehead 
and  gills ;  his  round  body  ;  and  blue  thin  legs  ;  and  his  silver-grey, 
scanty,  feathery  hair  lying  like  a  plume  all  over  his  head,  all  proved  him 
cock-like.  This  man,  thought  I,  has  been  cooped  up  in  pens,  or  penned 
up  in  coops,  until  he  has  become  shaped,  colored,  mannered,  like  the 
bird  he  has  been  feeding.  I  should  scarcely  have  been  surprised,  if  told 
that  old  Nash  crowed  when  the  light  first  dawned  of  a  summer's  morn- 
ing. I  warrant  he  pecked  bread  and  milk  to  some  tune,  and,  perhaps, 
slept  upon  a  perch  !  But  Fleming  lifted  his  bird  from  the  bag,  and  my 
whole  mind  was  directed  his  way.  This  was  a  yellow-bodied, 
black-winged  handsome,  cock,  seemingly  rather  slight,  but  elastic  and 
muscular;  he  was  restless  at  the  sight  of  his  antagonist,  but  quite 
silent ;  and  old  Nash  examined  him  most  carefully  by  the  paper,  and 
delivered  it  up  to  Fleming,  upon  finding  him  answer  to  his  description. 
The  setters-te  then  smoothed  their  birds  and  handled  them,  wetted 
their  fingers,  and  moistened  their  bandaged  ankles,  where  the  spurs 
were  fastened,  held  them  up  opposite  to  each  other,  and  then  pam- 
pered their  courage,  and  prepared  them  for  combat. 

The  mat  was  cleared  of  all  persons  except  Fleming  and  young 
Nash ;  the  betting  went  on  vociferously  ;  the  setters-to  taunted  the 
birds  with  each  other's  presence — allowed  them  to  strike  at  each 
other  at  a  distance — put  them  on  the  mat  facing  each  other — encour- 
aged and  fed  their  crowing  and  mantling,  until  they  were  nearly 
dangerous  to  hold,  and  then  loosened  them  against  each  other,  for  the 
fatal  fight. 

The  first  terrific  dart  into  attitude,  was,  indeed  strikingly  grand 
and  beautiful ;  and  the  wary  sparring,  watching,  dodging  for  the  first 
cut,  was  extremely  curious.  They  were  beak-point  to  beak-point, 
until  they  dashed  up  into  one  tremendous  flirt,  mingling  their  power- 


GAME    FOWLS.  125 

ful,  rustling  wings,  and  nervous  heels,  in  one  furious,  confused  mass. 
The  leap,  the  fire,  the  passion  of  strength,  the  certaminis  gaudia,  were 
fierce  and  loud ;  the  parting  was  another  kind  of  thing,  every  way. 
I  can  compare  the  sound  of  the  first  flight  to  nothing  less  than  that  of 
a  wet  umbrella  forced  suddenly  open.  The  separation  was  death- 
like ;  the  yellow,  or  rather  the  ginger  bird,  staggered  out  of  the 
close,  drooping,  dismantled,  bleeding ;  he  was  struck. 

Fleming  and  J^ash  severally  took  their  birds,  examined  them  for  a 
moment,  and  then  set  them  again  opposite  to  each  other.  The  hand- 
ling of  the  cocks  was  as  delicate  as  if  they  had  been  made  of  foam, 
froth,  or  any  other  most  perishable  matter.  Fleming's  bird  staggered 
towards  his  opponent,  but  he  was  hit  dreadfully,  and  ran  like  a 
drunken  man — tottering  on  his  breast,  sinking  back  on  his  tail — while 
Nash's,  full  of  fire  and  irritated  courage,  gave  the  finishing  stroke, 
that  clove  every  particle  of  life  in  twain.  The  brave  bird  thus  killed, 
dropped  at  once  from  the  "gallant  bearing  and  proud  mien,"  to  the 
relaxed,  draggled,  motionless  object,  that  lay  in  bleeding  ruin  on  the 
mat.  I  sighed  and  looked  thoughtful,  when  the  tumult  of  the  betters 
startled  me  into  a  consciousness  of  the  scene  at  which  I  was  present. 

The  victor  cock  was  carried  by  me  in  all  his  pride,  slightly  scarred, 
but  evidently  made  doubly  fierce  and  muscular  by  the  short  encoun- 
ter he  had  been  engaged  in.  He  seemed  to  have  grown  double  the 
size;  his  eves  were  larger. 

The  paying  backward  and  forward  of  money,  won  and  lost,  occu- 
pied the  time  until  the  two  Nashes  again  descended  with  another  cock. 

Sometimes  the  first  blow  was  fatal ;  at  another  time  the  contest 
was  long  and  doubtful,  and  the  cocks  showed  all  the  obstinate  courage, 
weariness,  distress,  and  breathlessness  which  marks  the  struggle  of 
experienced  pugilists.  I  saw  the  beak  open,  the  tongue  palpitate, 
the  wing  drag  on  the  mat;  I  noticed  the  legs  tremble,  and  the  body 
topple  over  upon  the  breast ;  the  eye  grow  dim,  and  even  a  perspira- 
tion break  out  upon  the  feathers  of  the  back.  When  the  battle  lasted 
long,  and  the  cocks  lay  helpless  near  or  upon  each  other,  one  of  the 
feeders  counted  ten,  and  the  birds  were  separated  and  set-to  at  the 
chalk.  If  the  beaten  bird  does  not  fight  while  forty  is  counted,  and 
the  other  pecks,  or  shows  signs  of  battle,  the  former  is  declared  con- 
quered. 

The  cocks  were  the  next  object  of  curiosity.  A  covering  was  hung 
before  each  pen,  so  that  I  heard,  rather  than  saw  the  cocks ;  but  it 
was  feeding  time,  and  I  beheld  innumerable  rocky  beaks  and  spark- 
ling eyes  at  work  in  the  troughs ;  and  the  stroke  of  the  beak,  in 
taking  up  the  barley,  was  like  the  knock  of  a  manly  kmickle  on  the 
table.  Old  N"ash  WM  mixing  bread  and  milk  for  his  feathered  family. 


126 


GAME    FOWLS. 


MALACCA      GAME     FOWLS. 

When  I  penned  my  remarks  on  the  SUMATRA  PHEASANT 
G-AMES,  I  was  not  aware  that  any  other  breed  of  Games  in  the 
world  could  be  compared  with  them  for  unflinching  courage 
and  beauty ;  but  the  Malacca  Games,  a  very  recent  importation, 
bid  fair  to  be  equal,  if  not  superior  to  them.  No  person  in  the 
world,  in  my  opinion,  has  spent  so  much  money  to  search  out 
the  best  breeds  of  fowls  from  the  most  distant  parts  of  the 
world,  as  Dr.  Bennett.  The  expense  of  sending  an  agent 
especially  to  Malacca,  to  procure  this  breed,  has  been  enormous. 
He  has  also  just  imported  by  the  British  Royal  Mail  Steamer 
"  Europa,"  some  of  the  finest  Game  fowls,  of  other  breeds,  in 
England.  They  were  purchased  for  him  at  the  great  Birming- 
ham Fair,  by  Mrs.  Hosier  Williams,  of  Eaton  Mascott,  near 
Shrewsbury,  and  Wm.  Oust  Gwynne,  M.  D.,  of  Sandbacb, 
Cheshire.  They  were  pronounced  the  best  blood  in  England, 
and  Dr.  B.  now  has,  without  doubt,  the  best  stock  of  Games  in 
the  world.  The  following  is  the  Doctor's  description  of  the 
Malacca  Games  : 


GAME    FOWLS.  127 

The  magnificent  fowls  which  are  portrayed  in  this  cut,  and  which 
are  at  my  place  of  residence — Fort  des  Moines,  Iowa — were  imported 
from  Malacca,  India,  by  Capt.  Palmer.  This  stock  was  selected,  per- 
sonally, by  a  friend  of  mine,  and  the  likenesses  at  the  head  of  this 
article,  are  accurate  and  life-like. 

No  Game  fowl  ever  viewed  from  the  plaza  de  gallos,  can  equal  the 
Malacca  Games  for  SIZE  and  POWER;  and  as  to  prowess  and  beauty,  none 
excel  them.  This  bird  is  the  "Magnus  Apollo"  of  the  Game  race.  It 
is  very  seldom  that  a  cock  of  any  other  breed  of  Games,  can  stand 
before  a  ken  of  the  Malacca  Games.  I  lately  imported  some  Games 
from  England,  relative  to  which,  the  person  who  selected  them,  says : 
"The  Games  I  send  are  from  the  best  blood  in  England,  and  it  is  a 
great  favor  to  obtain  them,  as  he  will  not  sell  them  to  any  one  in  this 
country."  I  also  imported  from  Londonderry,  some  Irish  Games, 
relative  to  which  the  person  who  made  the  selection,  writes :  "I  have 
purchased  you  some  of  the  best  Irish  Games  in  the  world,  as  I  think." 
Now  both  these  English  and  Irish  Games  were  whipped  by  the  Malacca 
hens,  and  it  was  with  great  difficulty  that  my  best  Sumatra  Game 
cocks  could  master  them,  after  half  an  hour  hard  fighting.  I  am  fully 
satisfied  that  there  are  no  Game  fowls  equal  to  the  Malaccas,  for  the 
pit.  They  are  what  cockers  call  "  Dead  Game,"  and  their  great  size 
gives  them  a  decided  advantage  over  any  other  breed  of  Games. 

They  will  answer  to  the  following  description :  Head,  broad,  but 
small,  comparatively ;  eyes,  rather  large,  with  a  red  iris,  and  black 
pupil;  comb,  almost  invariably  what  is  called  a  pea-comb;  wattles, 
small ;  hackles,  of  the  neck  and  loins,  long  and  brilliant ;  tail,  very 
long  and  flowing,  with  abundant  plume  and  sickle  feathers,  sweeping 
the  ground,  though  not  so  horizontal  as  the  Sumatra  or  Java  Games ; 
body,  well  proportioned,  compact,  and  symmetrical ;  color,  dark 
bronze,  or  mahogany,  and  as  brilliant  as  the  Sumatra  Games ;  legs, 
dark,  and  sinewy.  Nothing  can  equal  the  Malaccas  in  the  richness 
and  lustre  of  their  plumage,  except  the  Sumatras. 

The  Malacca  Game  cocks  weigh  from  seven  to  nine  and  a  half 
pounds,  each ;  and  the  hens  from  five  and  a  half  to  six  and  a  half 
pounds,  each. 

They  are  excellent  layers,  and  their  flesh  is  fine  and  succulent ;  and 
in  fact,  there  is  no  fowl  of  their  weight,  the  flesh  of  which  is  as  savory. 
For  table  use,  therefore,  they  are  unsurpassed. 

My  southern  and  eastern  friends,  who  desire  to  see  these  fowls,  can 
do  so  by  calling  on  A.  Verloin  de  Gruy,  Esq.,  of  New  Orleans,  La., 
Jas.  McClintock,  M.  IX,  Phila.,  and  T.  B.  Miner,  Esq.,  of  Clinton,  N. 
Y.,  whom  I  shall  supply  at  my  earliest  convenience. 

JOHN  C.  BENNETT. 

Fort  des  Moines,  Iowa. 


328 


RUSSIAN    FOWLS. 


RUSSIAN     FOWLS. 

The  above  portraits  represent  a  splendid  pair  of  Russian 
fowls,  in  possession  of  A.  Verloin  de  Gruy,  Esq.,  No.  28,  Conti 
street,  New  Orleans,  who  has,  on  his  plantation,  near  the  city, 
the  best  stock  of  imported  fowls  at  the  South,  as  before  stated. 

This  breed  is  said  to  be  very  hardy,  and  prolific  layers. 
They  are  very  scarce,  and  cannot  be  had,  at  present,  of  any  of 
the  fowl  fanciers,  to  my  knowledge. 

Dr.  Bennett  describes  them  as  follows,  having  been  interested 
with  Mr.  de  Gruy  in  their  importation.  He  will  take  specimens 
to  Iowa,  as  breeders  : 

The  above  portraits  accurately  represent  the  beautiful  black  Rus- 
sian fowls,  from  the  stock  of  A.  Ver]oin  de  Gruy,  Esq.,  of  New 
Orleans,  La.  They  are  by  some  authors  called  Siberian  fowl,  and  are 
alluded  to  by  Dixon  and  by  Kerr,  but  their  descriptions  are  inaccurate. 

These  fowls  are  perfectly  black,  with  dark  legs.     They  are  what 


RUSSIAN    FOWLS.  129 

are  called  muffed  fowls ;  that  is,  they  have  a  muff  of  feathers  under 
the  throat,  and  at  the  sides  of  the  head,  like  whiskers  ;  but  are  nofc 
tutted  or  crested  fowls;  that  is,  they  are  destitute  of  a  top-knot. 
The  comb  is  single,  serrated,  and  small,  and  the  wattles  are  of  dimin- 
utive size. 

The  Russian,  or  Siberian  fowls,  are  about  the  size  of  Black  Shang- 
haes,  and  are  equally  prolific,  and  m-uch  more  brilliant  in  plumage. 
They  are  not  so  feathery  as  the  Shanghaee,  and  consequently  are  of 
greater  specific  gravity — a  sure  indication  of  fineness  of  flesh. 

Some  breeders  call  the  Bavarian  fowl  the  Siberian  fowl,  but  this  is 
an  error ;  for  the  Siberian  and  Russian  fowl  are  identical,  and  this 
stock  was  imported  direct  from  Russia.  Mr.  De  Gruy  has  them  in 
great  perfection. 

Dr.  B.  has  placed  at  my  disposal  a  letter  from  E.  L.  Hyde, 
Esq.,  of  Mystic,  Conn.,  from  which  I  make  the  following  extract : 

"Supposing  that  information  of  any  new  breed  of  fowls  would  be 
interesting  to  you,  I  will  inform  you  of  a  breed  that  has  lately  fallen 
under  my  observation,  in  this  vicinity.  The  first  were  brought  here 
some  two  years  since,  but  where  they  originated,  or  by  whom  imported, 
I  have  not  been  able  to  learn.  They  are  called  the  Russian  Fowl,  and 
I  do  not  see  them  mentioned  in  your  book,  nor  in  any  other  that  I 
have  obtained,  and  it  is  very  singular  how  so  valuable  a  fowl  for  this 
climate  should  have  escaped  your  notice.  They  weigh  from  fifteen  to 
seventeen  pounds  the  pair,  and  the  stags  stand  from  twenty-eight  to 
thirty  inches  high.  They  have  large,  single  combs,  small  wattles,  and 
large  black  whiskers,  and  a  ruff  at  the  throat ;  small,  tucked-up  wings, 
large,  long,  body,  wide  breast  and  back,  and  very  deep  in  the  quarter ; 
legs,  not  long,  but  black,  except  the  under  part  of  the  foot,  which  is 
a  deep  yellow.  They  are  of  a  uniform  color,  being  a  beautiful  green- 
ish black,  like  the  feathers  of  a  Wood  Duck,  with  the  exceptic-n  that 
the  stags  have  dark  red  hackles,  with  a  delicate  penciling  of  black 
through  the  middle  of  each,  on  the  neck,  and  a  very  few  near  the 
root  of  the  tail,  which  is  even  shorter  than  that  of  the  Cochin  Chinas. 
They  seem  particularly  adapted  to  this  cold  climate,  as  they  lay  almost 
constantly,  without  a  warm  shelter  or  extra  feed.  One  man  assured 
me,  and  I  have  no  cause  to  doubt  his  word,  as  he  is  known  to  be  a 
man  of  truth  and  veracity — that  one  of  his  pullets  laid  335  eggs  in  a 
year,  and  that  other  hens  did  nearly  as  well.  All  who  have  these 
fowls,  are  getting  eggs  every  day,  while  those  that  have  any  other 
variety,  get  none.  The  eggs  are  a  dark  buff  color,  and  are  blunt  at 
both  ends,  like  the  Cochin  Chinas.  I  understand  that  they  were 
brought  from  the  north  of  Europe  by  a  New  London  whaler." 
6* 


130 


ENGLISH    RED-CAP    FOWLS. 


ENGLISH      RED-CAPS. 

This  is  a  newly  imported  breed  from  England.  Their  first 
public  introduction  in  this  country,  was  at  the  Poultry  Fair  of 
the  New  England  Society,  in  September,  1852,  at  Boston. 
They  were  highly  spoken  of  at  that  exhibition. 

Dr.  J.  C.  Bennett,  of  Fort  des  Moines,  Iowa,  purchased  sev- 
eral pairs  of  the  importer,  Geo.  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Valley  Falls, 
R.  I.,  who  writes  to  Dr.  B.  as  follows : 

"The  old  pair  commenced  laying  in  December,  and  have  laid  up  to 
last  week,  (Oct.  19,  1852.)  They  are  now  moulting.  I  sell  the 
chickens  at  $15  per  pair.  They  are  a  very  extra  fowl,  unquestionably, 
and  this  importation  is  the  only  one  of  this  breed  in  the  United 
States.  The  old  fowls  are  very  beautiful,  but  you  can  form  no  idea 
of  their  beauty  until  one  year  old,  o.r  iintil  after  the  second  moulting, 
after  which  their  whole  appearance  is  changed,  and  their  plumage 
becomes  very  brilliant — a  bright  gold  color  and  black  most  beautifully 
intermixed  and  exquisitely  shaded." 

Dr.  Bennett  sent  a  part  of  his  purchase  to  A.  Verloin  de  Gruy, 
Esq.,  New  Orleans,  a  pair  of  which  are  represented  by  the 
above  portraits,  taken  from  life.  Mr.  De  Gruy  will  be  able  to 
supply  his  southern  friends  with  these  fowls  in  due  season. 


WHITE    CALCUTTA    FOWLS. 


131 


WHITE     CALCUTTA     FOWLS. 

Here  we  have  an  entirely  new  breed  to  American  fowl  fan- 
ciers. We  have  engaged  a  fine  pair  from  Mr.  Roberts,  the 
importer,  whose  letter  is  appended,  at  a  price  that  would 
frighten  our  farmers,  generally,  out  of  their  wits,  if  they  had 
to  pay  such  sums  for  fowls.  We  will  let  Dr.  Bennett  describe 
them,  he  having  a  hand  in  all  the  new  importations  : 

The  fowls  portrayed  above  were  imported  direct  from  Calcutta, 
India,  by  Captain  Sparkes.  They  are  perfectly  white,  and  about  the 
size  of  the  white  Shanghaes,  from  which,  however,  they  materially 
differ,  by  having  longer  legs,  and  perfectly  smooth,  or  "  clean  legged," 
as  it  is  called,  with  long  tails,  long  necks,  etc.,  etc.,  thus  being  essen- 
tially different  from  any  of  the  white  Chinese  breeds.  All  of  this 
excellent  stock,  (except  three  owned  by  Mr.  George  Roberts,  Jr.,)  now 
in  the  United  States,  belongs  to  A.  Verloin  de  Gruy,  Esq.,  of  the  firm 
of  Henry  Tete  &  Co.,  Commission  Merchants,  No.  28  Conti  street, 


132  WHITE    CALCUTTA    FOWLS. 

New  Orleans,  La.  In  physical  contour,  these  White  Calcutta  fowls  of 
Mr.  De  Gruy,  very  closely  resemble  the  beautiful  Hoang  Ho  fowls  of 
George  Haig,  Esq.,  of  Mobile,  Ala.  I  think  this  decidedly  the  best 
importation  of  large  white  fowls  ever  made.  They  are  very  extra, 
and  highly  ornamental  birds.  Mr.  Roberts'  letter,  annexed,  is  a 
further  description  of  this  importation. 

JOHN  C.  BENNETT. 

GREAT  FALLS,  Feb.  2d,  1853. 

Friend  Bennett, — As  you  wish  information  concerning  these  white 
fowls,  I  will  just  say :  They  were  imported  from  Calcutta  by  Capt. 
Sparkes,  a  year  since,  and  presented  to  me.  In  regard  to  the  size, 
beauty,  &c.,  of  these  fowls,  I  shall  allow  you  to  be  the  best  judge; 
but  my  opinion  is,  there  are  no  better  fowls  in  the  country.  Mr. 
Lord,  who  bred  them  this  season,  says  he  has  no  better  layers.  One 
of  the  pullets,  hatched  last  June,  commenced  laying  the  first  of 
January,  and  has  laid  23  eggs  during  the  month.  I  think  that  is  doing 
•well  for  this  season.  There  have  been  some  persons  trying  to  prove 
the  white  Shanghaes  and  Calcutta  fowls  to  be  one  and  the  same 
breed  ;  but  they  are  a  perfectly  distinct  and  different  breed.  "While 
the  Shanghaes  have  short  necks  and  short  tails,  the  Calcutta  fowls 
stand  very  tall,  with  a  long,  heavy  tail,  and  smooth,  yellow  le  -. 
There  are  no  fowls  of  this  stock,  of  pure  breed,  except  those  owned 
by  Mr.  De  Gruy  and  myself. 

Yours,  <fec.,  GEORGE  ROBERTS,  Jr. 


BLACK   SPANISH    FOWLS. 


133 


J.     P.      CHILDS       BLACK     SPANISH     FOWLS. 

The  above  cut  represents  a  Black  Spanish  cock  owned  by  J. 
P.  Childs,  Esq.,  Woonsocket,  R.  I.  This  breed  of  fowls  is  very 
popular  as  layers.  They  seldom  desire  to  set,  consequently, 
their  eggs  must  be  hatched  by  other  fowls.  Mr.  Childs  writes 
me  as  follows : 

"WOONSOCKET,  Sept.  20th,  1852. 

MR.  T.  B.  MINER— -.Dear  Sir:  The  Black  Spanish  fowls,  which  this 
cut  represents,  were  imported  late  in  the  summer  of  1850,  by  Mr.  J. 
Tucker,  of  "Waterford,  through  hia  father,  then  a  resident  of  England, 


134 


BLACK    SPANISH    FOWLS. 


BLACK     SPANISH     HEN. 

who  states  that  he  has  bred  the  Spanish  fowl  for  upwards  of  twenty 
years,  and  being  thoroughly  acquainted  with  the  breed,  he  says  he 
never  saw  finer  specimens  of  the  Spanish  stock. 

Last  spring  I  became  so  well  satisfied  of  the  superiority  of  this 
stock  over  all  other  importations  with  which  I  am  acquainted,  (which 
embraces  nearly  all  in  New  England,)  that  I  obtained  the  entire  stock, 
consisting  of  a  cock  and  three  hens,  and  have  bred  from  them  with 
very  good  success  the  past  season.  The  difference  between  them  and 
others  of  this  breed,  consists  in  their  greater  size,  brilliancy  of 
plumage,  which  is  black,  changing  in  the  sun  to  a  purplish  green,  ear 
lobes  more  fully  developed,  and  of  a  pearly  whiteness.  The  comb  is 
also  larger,  and  drooping  on  the  cocks,  as  on  the  hens,  and  very  deeply 
serrated.  The  legs  are  of  a  leaden  color,  and  there  is  not  the  slightest 
variation,  in  this  respect,  in  fifty  chickens  bred  this  season.  They  run 
as  near  alike  as  partridges.  They  are  a  pure  breed.  As  layers,  they 
have  no  equal,  whether  the  size,  number,  or  richness  of  the  eggs  is 
considered.  I  have  a  pullet  eleven  months  old  now,  (Sept.  20th,) 
which  has  layed  150  eggs,  and  is  still  laying,  having  missed  but  one 
week  since  she  commenced. 

Respectfully  yours,         .       J.  P.  CmLD8. 


BLACK    SPANISH    FOWLS.  135 

There  have  been  several  very  fine  lots  of  Black  Spanish 
fowls  recently  imported  by  Dr.  J.  C.  Bennett,  Dr.  Wight,  and 
Jno.  Giles,  Esq.,  the  portraits  of  which  are  here  shown.  I  have 
not  procured  this  breed,  for  the  reason,  that  they  do  not  thrive 
so  well  in  a  very  cold  climate,  as  in  a  moderate  one,  and  besides 
being  less  hardy  than  some  other  breeds,  their  combs  are 
more  liable  to  freeze.  I  shall,  however,  procure  the  breed, 
and  construct  warm  quarters  for  them.  As  a  market,  or  table 
fowl,  I  cannot  recommend  them,  because  it  is  a  generally 
admitted  fact,  that  all  black  fowls,  of  the  smaller  gallinaceous 
tribes,  are  hard  to  fatten,  and  their  flesh  not  as  finely  flavored 
as  that  of  light-colored  fowls.  This  rule,  however,  does  not 
apply  with  equal  force  to  some  of  the  large  Asiatic  black  fowls. 
As  layers,  I  will  admit  that  the  Black  Spanish  fowls  are  truly 
valuable,  but  beyond  this,  judging  from  analogy  and  other  con- 
siderations, I  must  say  that  here  their  main  worth  rests. 

Mr.  Dimon,  the  writer  of  the  following  letter,  says,  that  they 
are  very  hardy ;  but  I  must  have  evidence  of  that  fact  from 
personal  experience,  before  I  shall  believe  that  their  hardiness 
will  compare  with  our  large  Chinese  or  Asiatic  breeds  of  fowls  ; 
but  at  the  same  time,  Mr.  Dimon  may  be  correct  in  calling 
them  hardy,  to  a  certain  extent. 

WAKEFIELD,  R.  I,  Sept.  27,  1852. 

ME.  T.  B.  MINER — Dear  Sir :  As  yon  request  me  to  write  an  article 
concerning  the  Black  Spanish  fowls  which  I  own,  I  will  endeavor  to 
do  so.  The  parents  of  my  fowls  were  imported  from  England  in  May, 
1850,  at  a  great  expense.  And  they  are  the  handsomest  specimens  of 
the  Spanish  stock  1  have  ever  seen.  And  at  our  State  Fair  last  fall, 
they  took  the  only  premium  awarded  on  Spanish  fowls,  although  Mr. 
J.  P.  Child s'  fowls  were  there. 

I  have  for  several  years  been  more  or  less  engaged  in  keeping  and 
breeding  fowls,  and  formerly  more  for  pleasure  than  profit ;  but  now, 
my  object  is  to  keep  fowls  for  profit ;  and  after  impartially  trying 
nearly  all  kinds  common  to  this  country,  I  have  come  to  this  conclusion 
— that  if  eggs  be  your  object,  keep  the  Spanish  fowls  in  preference  to 
any  others  of  my  acquaintance.  But  if  raising  chickens  for  market 
be  your  object,  I  would  advise  a  cross  between  the  Spanish  and 
Shanghae  or  some  other  large  fowl.  I  have  been  very  successful  in 
crossing  the  Spanish  with  the  red  Shanghaes  for  raising  chickens  for 
the  market,  as  chickens  from  this  cross  grow  larger  than  the  clear 
Spanish,  and  also  come  to  maturity  much  sooner  than  the  Shanghaes, 
thereby  producing  good  sized  fowls  for  the  market,  of  excellent  flesh, 
that  are  not  forever  growing.  The  Spanish  fowls  of  my  stock  are  of 
a  medium  size,  averaging  about  six  pounds  in  weight,  of  a  glossy 
black  plumage,  changing  in  the  sun  to  a  greenish  hue.  Their  legs  are 
of  a  leaden  color ;  the  solea  of  their  feet  are  of  a  dirty  flesh  color, 


136  BLACK   SPANISH    JTOVVLS. 

with  four  toes  on  each  foot ;  their  combs  are  uncommonly  high,  deeply 
serrated,  and  of  a  very  brilliant  red,  almost  bordering  on  a  scarlet ; 
their  wattles  are  very  long,  and  of  the  same  color ;  their  ear  lobes  are 
of  a  pearly  whiteness,  contrasting  very  favorably  with  the  plumage 
of  the  bird,  which  stands  very  erect,  thereby  making  a  very  imposing 
appearance  in  the  poultry  yard.  Some  might  suppose,  as  these  birds 
have  leaden-colored  legs,  their  flesh  would  look  blue,  but  instead  of 
that,  it  is  very  white  and  delicate.  My  old  hen  commonly  lays  from 
thirty  to  sixty  eggs  to  a  litter,  and  then  is  inclined  to  incubate,  but  on 
being  broken  up,  soon  commences  again ;  or  if  set,  she  is  a  good 
sitter  and  most  excellent  nurse. 

The  eggs  of  these  fowls  are  very  large  and  highly  flavored.  I  have 
a  pullet  of  this  breed,  raised  last  year,  which  commenced  laying  in 
February  last,  and  has  never  wanted  to  set,  bi>t  has  layed  almost  con- 
stantly, and  is  still  laying.  The  cocks  of  this  breed,  besides  being 
very  beautiful,  are  also  very  peaceable.  I  rarely  ever  saw  two  of 
them  fighting  together,  but  when  insulted  by  other  fowls,  they  can 
and  will  fight,  with  courage  truly  commendable.  I  have  seen  a  single 
cock  of  this  breed  whip  five  full  grown  turkeys,  en  masse. 

Above  you  have  my  honest,  impartial  views  concerning  the  Black 
Spanish  fowls.  I  live  with  a  mind  open  to  conviction.  If  any  one 
can  convince  me  that  there  is  a  breed  of  fowls  superior  to  these  for 
the  purposes  above  stated,  I  will  certainly  try  them.  I  would  also 
add,  the  above  breed  of  fowls  are  very  hardy  and  easy  to  keep. 

Yours  truly,  JOHN  DIMON. 


BLACK   SPANISH    FOWLS. 


137 


DR.    EBEN    WIGHT'S    BLACK    SPANISH    FOWLS. 

Dr.  Eben  Wight,  of  Dedham,  Mass.,  (business,  No.  7,  Cus- 
tom House  street,  Boston,)  lias  probably  done  as  much  to 
improve  our  foreign  and  native  fowls,  and  in  importing  choice 
stock,  as  any  other  man  in  Massachusetts.  His  Black  Spanish 
fowls,  as  here  represented,  are  the  identical  pair  that  was 
awarded  the  first  premium  at  the  great  Poultry  Fair  in  Eng- 
land, in  1851,  which  he  procured  at  a  very  heavy  cost;  but  I 
will  allow  the  Doctor  to  tell  his  own  story.  Dr.  W.  took  the 
first  premium  for  the  best  pair  of  these  fowls,  at  the  Poultry 
Fair  in  Boston,  Sept.  1852,  and  Jno.  Giles,  Esq.,  took  a  premium 
for  the  best  trio  of  this  breed. 

BOSTON,  July  20th,  1852. 

T.  B.  MINEB,  ESQ. — Dear  Sir :  Agreeable  with  your  request,  I  send 
you  by  the  express  of  to-day,  an  electrotype  cut  of  my  pair  of  imported 
Black  Spanish  fowls. 


1138 


BLACK    SPANISH    FOWLS. 


BLACK     SPANISH     HEN. 

The  drawing  was  made  by  one  of  our  best  artists,  and  is  considered 
a  faithful  likeness  by  all  those  who  have  seen  the  fowls.  They  are 
the  identical  pair  which  took  the  FIRST  PRIZE  as  the  best  pair,  at  the 
Birmingham  or  "all  England  Show,"  held  December,  1851.  They 
arrived  at  Boston,  in  March,  1852,  and  were  sent  immediately  out  to 
my  farm  in  Dedham,  where  they  can  be  seen.  All  the  fancy  who 
have  seen  them,  are  unqualified  in  their  expression  that  these  are  a 
true  type  of  this  breed. 

Mr.  Peck,  the  gentleman  of  whom  I  procured  this  pair,  was  the 
winner  of  the  FIRST  PRIZE  for  the  best  pair,  the  FIRST  PRIZE  for  the 
best  three,  and  the  FIRST  PRIZE  for  the  best  six — thus  carrying  off  the 
palm  on  the  whole  list  of  Black  Spanish. 

It  is  no  easy  matter  for  a  person  to  take  the  highest  prize  on  poul- 
try, in  England,  where  competition  is  open  to  all ;  and  where  such 
jealous  care  is  used  in  breeding,  from  the  hnmble  cottager,  to  the 
nobility,  who  possess  ample  means  for  the  procuring  and  the  breeding 
of  choice  poultry. 

Both  cock  and  hen  have  the  plumage  of  an  entire  black,  hackles 
and  all ;  and  being  in  fine  condition,  there  is  a  greenish,  metalic, 
lustral  hue,  pervading  the  whole  feathering,  contrasting  beautifully 
with  the  white  face  and  cheek  pieces  of  both  cock  and  hen  ;  the 


BLACK   SPANISH    FOWLS.  139 

cheek  piece  of  the  cock  extending  well  down  on  the  neck.  The  cock 
has  an  upright  single  comb,  of  a  very  large  size,  and  deeply  serrated  ; 
that  of  the  hen  is  proportionally  as  large,  drooping  over  on  one  side; 
the  wattles  of  the  cock  are  on  the  same  liberal  scale  as  is  his  comb ; 
the  legs  are  blue,  or  rather  of  a  dark,  leaden  color. 

A  breed  of  handsome  feathering,  contrasting  favorably  with  the 
bright  scarlet  of  comb  and  wattles,  and  white  cheek  pieces  and  face, 
of  the  same  texture,  renders  them  one  of  the  most  ornamental  of  any 
ci  the  poultry  kind.  Added  to  the  ornamental,  you  have  an  everlast- 
ing layer  of  the  largest  sized,  clear  white  eggs,  and  when  the  fowl  is 
served  at  table,  it  is  of  white  meat  and  skin,  juicy,  and  of  a  short  and 
tine  fibre. 

The  cock  is  known  by  the  name  of  "Impudence"  and  the  hen  by 
the  name  of  " Betty"  to  breeders  in  England. 

In  breeding  the  Black  Spanish,  one  mast  make  use  of  other  hens 
for  hatching  the  eggs,  since  this  breed  are  not  disposed  to  be  broody, 
a  quality  which  can  easily  be  dispensed  with,  and  is  sometimes  very 
annoying  in  valuable  fowls,  being  a  duty  which  any  common  barn- 
yard hen  is  ever  ready  to  take  upon  herself  at  the  proper  season  of 
the  year. 

In  this  climate,  the  chicks  have  feathered  early,  and  from  the  shell 
upward  have  been  strong  and  healthy.  On  first  leaving  the  shell, 
they  are  of  a  siz-e  such  as  might  be  expected  from  extra  sized  eggs. 
Each  chick  has  a  pinafore  of  white,  which  gradually  diminishes  as 
they  grow,  till,  at  the  expiration  of  a  few  weeks,  they  are  found  to  be 
in  sable  plumage. 

So  soon  as  the  hen  got  over  the  effect  of  the  voyage,  she  commenced 
laying,  and  has  uninterruptedly  continued  to  "shell  out,"  so  that  I 
have  a  good  stock  of  her  chickens  on  hand. 

Yours,  &c.,  EBEN  WIGHT. 

Martin,  Dixon,  and  others,  accord  the  highest  praise  to  the  Black 
Spanish  fowl.  Martin  says :  "  The  cock  is  a  noble  and  stately  bird, 
remarkable  for  size  and  height ;  is,  in  fact,  superior  to  all  our  domestic 
races,  if  we  except  the  Kuhlm  fowl,  and  at  the  same  time  it  possesses, 
excellent  symmetry.  The  hen  is  also  of  a  large  size  and  good  figure. 
Brought  originally,  as  it  is  believed,  from  Spain,  this  breed  is  never- 
theless very  hardy,  and  well  adapted  to  our  climate,  and  is  reared  as 
easily  aa  any.  of  inferior  importance.  To  those  who  breed  fowls  for 
the  sake  of  flesh  and  eggs,  this  fine  variety  cannot  be  too  strongly 
recommended.  The  flesh  is  delicately  white,  tender  and  juicy,  and  the 
hens  are  free  layers." 

Dixon,  in  speaking  of  this  breed,  says :  "  It  is  a  noble  race  of  fowls, 
possessing  many  great  merits ;  of  spirited  and  animated  appearance, 
of  considerable  size,  excellent  for  the  table,  both  in  whiteness  of  flesh 
and  skin,  and  also  in  flavor,  laying  exceedingly  large  eggs  in  consid- 
erable numbers. 

"  Among  birds  of  its  own  breed,  it  is  not  deficient  in  courage,  though 
it  yields,  without  showing  much  fight,  to  those  which  have  a  dash  of 
Game  in  their  veins. 

"  Thorough  bred  birds  of  the  fancy  should  be  entirely  black,  as  far 


140  BLACK    SPANISH    FOWLS. 

as  feathers  are  concerned,  and,  when  in  high  condition,  display  a 
greenish,  metalic  lustre.  The  comb  of  both  cock  and  hen  is  exceed- 
ingly large,  and  of  a  vivid  scarlet ;  that  of  the  hen  droops  over  on 
one  side. 

"  The  most  singular  feature,  is  a  large  white  patch,  or  ear-lobe,  on 
the  cheek,  which,  in  some  species,  extends  over  a  great  part  of  the 
face,  of  fleshy  substance,  similar  to  the  wattle  ;  it  is  small  in  the  hens, 
but  large  and  very  conspicuous  in  the  cock.  This  marked  contrast  of 
black,  bright  red,  and  white,  makes  the  head  of  the  Spanish  cock  as 
handsome  as  that  of  any  variety  we  have  ;  and  in  the  genuine  breed 
the  whole  form  is  equally  good  ;  but  the  scraggy,  long-legged,  mis- 
shapen mongrels  one  often  sees  in  the  poorer  quarters  of  a  town,  are 
enough  to  throw  discredit  on  the  whole  race." 

E.  W. 


BLACK    SPANISH    POWLS. 


141 


JOHN      GILES7      BLACK      SPANISH      FOWLS. 

These  fowls,  and  those  belonging  to  Dr.  Wight,  and  Dr.  J. 
C.  Bennett,  Fort  des  Moines,  Iowa,  are  very  nearly  identical, 
and  the  difference  in  the  appearance  of  the  portraits  of  the 
above,  and  Dr.  Wight's,  is  owing  more  to  the  model  given  to 
them  by  their  respective  draughtsmen,  than  to  any  real  differ- 
ence in  shape  existing  in  the  fowls,  though  there  is  some  little 
difference,  without  doubt.  Mr.  Giles'  fowls,  or  the  above  crower, 
is  evidently  made  to  appear  taller  than  he  really  is,  and  with 
longer  legs  than  he  actually  possesses. 


142 


BLACK    SPANISH    FOWLS 


BLACK      SPANISH      HEN. 

Mr.  Giles  is  the  most  extensive  fowl  fancier,  for  pleasure 
merely,  in  New  England,  and  his  opinion  may  be  taken  as  the 
result  of  a  long  experience.  In  a  communication  to  me,  pre- 
vious to  that  which  is  here  annexed,  he  said  :  "  If  I  were  asked 
what  fowls  are  best,  if  your  object  be  eggs,  I  would  recommend, 
in  all  candor,  the  Black  Spanish  as  preferable  to  all  other  breeds." 
It  may  be  proper,  however,  to  add,  that  Mr.  Giles  is  no  friend 
to  the  Asiatic  breeds,  and  I  think  had  not,  at  the  time  of  writing 
the  above,  ever  kept  any  of  the  now  reputed  best  large  breeds, 
as  layers. 

PBOVTDENCE,  May  8,  1852. 

T.  B.  3ftner,  Esq., — Herewith  please  receive  casts  from  my  cuts  of 
fowls,  as  by  your  request.  As  you  are  about  publishing  a  treatise  on 
poultry,  I  suppose  that  you  are  pretty  well  posted  up  in  all  matters 
pertaining  to  it,  and  I  will  therefore  venture  but  few  remarks. 

There  is  a  standard,  you  know,  for  fowls  of  pure  blood,  precisely  as 
there  is  for  neat  stock.  This  standard  is  that  recognized  by  the  Lon- 
don Zoological  Society,  and  is  founded  on  close  and  continued  obser- 


BLACK    SPANISH    FOWLS.  143 

rations  by  the  distinguished  naturalists,  breeders  and  fanciers,  who 
belong  to  that  enterprising  and  eminent  society.  No  better,  nor  any 
so  good,  can  be  shown ;  nor  do  I  know  that,  among  enlightened  men, 
there  is  any  other.  I  have  therefore  adopted  this  standard  as  my 
guide  in  selecting  and  breeding  domestic  poultry,  and  aquatic  and 
other  fowls,  of  which  I  now  have,  in  all,  over  fifty  varieties. 

31y  object  is  not  to  puff  my  fowls,  for  I  have  no  desire  to  make 
money  out  of  them,  (I  would  prefer  to  exchange  for  such  varieties  as 
1  do  not  possess,)  but  to  use  my  exertions  to  introduce  here  another, 
and  a  more  consistent  and  reliable  standard,  than  mere  opinion  and 
guess  work  ;  and  also  to  breed  for  myself  none  other  than  the  pure 
blood,  of  whatever  breed. 

After  forty  years'  experience  in  the  breeding  of  fowls,  both  here 
and  in  England,  and  having,  in  that  long  space  of  time,  owned  and 
bred  every  known  variety,  it  will  scarcely  be  deemed  presumptuous 
in  me  to  have  an  opinion  of  my  own. 

The  drawings  of  Black  Spanish  fowls,  copies  of  which  I  send  you, 
were  taken  in  my  yard,  from  life.  The  cock  is  under  eleven  months 
old,  and  is  not,  of  course,  fully  matured. 

Of  all  domestic  fowls,  the  Black  Spanish  rank  first,  in  my  estima- 
tion, for  beauty  and  utility.  Their  plumage  is  a  beautiful  glossy 
black.  The  comb  is  large  and  serrated,  and  of  a  vivid  scarlet.  The 
wrattles  are  long ;  the  cheek,  white ;  ear-lobes,  large  and  white  ;  mak- 
ing a  pretty  contrast  with  the  sable  hue  of  their  plumage,  and  the 
scarlet  of  the  comb  and  wattles.  Their  legs  are  always  blue.  Their 
flesh  is  white  and  juicy,  and  of  the  first  quality  for  table  use.  They 
are  great  layers,  but  rather  disinclined  to  sit,  and  their  eggs  are  large 
and  white. 

A  full  grown  cock  will  weigh  from  seven  to  eight  pounds.  A  hen, 
from  five  to  seven  pounds. 

The  comb  of  this  breed,  from  its  great  size,  is  apt  to  freeze ;  but 
this  can  be  easily  prevented  by  a  little  care  and  caution  during  severe 
weather. 

At  this  present  time,  there  are  many  black  fowls,  with  large  combs, 
that  are  ignorantly  or  designedly  sold  for  "pure  Black  Spanish,"  that 
lack  many  of  the  distinguishing  marks  of  the  pure  breed.  Purchasers 
will  find  to  their  sorrow,  that  they  pay  for  bastards. 

I  am  yours,  respectfully,  JOHN  GILES. 


144 


BLACK    POLAND    FOWLS. 


BLACK     POLAND      FOWLS. 

This  breed  is  somewhat  akin  to  the  Black  Spanish  fowls, 
being  non-incubators,  like  that  breed.  Their  characteristics 
are  similar  to  the  Bla*ck  Spanish  fowls  in  nearly  all  respects, 
being  about  the  same  size,  same  color,  same  prolific  layers,  -or 
perhaps,  not  quite  equal  to  the  former  breed  in  that  respect, 
but  they  are  prolific  layers  in  general,  and  when  that  is  said,  all 
is  said  that  can  be  in  their  favor.  They  are  delicate  and  tender 
in  a  great  degree — more  so,  probably,  than  the  Black  Spanish 
fowls,  and  it  is  only  a  vexation  to  attempt  to  raise  their  young. 
They  are  not  adapted  to  severe  climates,  being  more  or  less 
affected  with  a  snuffling,  cold,  or  roupe,  during  the  cold  season. 
I  speak  understanding^,  having  bred  these  fowls  extensively 
on  Long  Island  some  years  ago. 


BLACK   POLAND    FOWLS.  145 

The  pure  breed  of  Black  Polands  should  be  black  to  a 
feather,  except  the  tuft,  or  top-knot,  which  is  a  pure  white. 
When  the  tufts  are  intermixed  with  black,  or  other  colored 
feathers,  it  is  a  sure  indication  that  the  fowls  are  not  pure. 

The  tufts  on  the  hens  are  of  an  oval,  round  shape,  and  very 
beautiful,  but  those  of  the  cocks,  in  the  pure  blood  fowls,  curve 
over,  like  the  branches  of  the  weeping  willow,  on  either  side, 
leaving  the  upper  part  of  the  tuft  more  depressed  than  in  hens. 
Very  few  pure  fowls  of  this  breed  are  now  to  be  had,  being 
generally  tinctured,  more  or  less,  with  the  blood  of  our  native 
fowls,  as  their  tufts  of  various  hues  indicate,  and  also  the  stray 
white,  or  light-colored  feathers  so  frequently  seen  on  their 
bodies. 

I  have  crossed  this  breed  with  our  native  dominique  fowls — 
the  blue-spotted  fowl — with  good  success.  I  placed  a  Poland 
cock  with  several  pullets  of  the  latter  breed,  and  the  result  of 
this  cross,  was  a  pure  black  fowl,  with  a  black  tufy  in  all  cases, 
in  pullets ;  but  the  cocks  were  both  variegated  in  the  plumage 
of  the  body  and  tuft,  which  is  a  little  curious  in  showing  cer- 
tain principles  of  cross-breeding.  The  following  is  from  a 
correspondent  of  the  Northern  Farmer : 

A  year  ago  I  gave  the  result  of  my  operations  with  a  small  lot  of 
Black  Poland  hens.  Having  done  better  the  year  past,  with  the  same 
breed,  I  have  thought  it  might  be  beneficial  to  some  of  the  patrons 
of  the  "  Farmer  "  who  keep  but  few  fowls,  to  know  how  well  I  have 
done,  and  how  I  did  it.  I  reckon  from  the  first  of  February,  at  which 
time  early  pullets  begin  to  lay,  if  they  have  ordinary  care. 

The  number  of  hens  was  ten,  and  one  male.  The  whole  number 
of  eggs  sold  and  used  in  the  family,  up  to  January  first,  (eleven 
months,)  was  sixty-eight  dozens.  Those  sold  brought  the  following 
prices,  viz: 

10  doz.,  at  14  cts.  per  doz. $1  40 

50         "      124    "        "     6  25 

8         "      used,  say  12£  cts.  per  doz. 1  00 

Sold  from  same  hens,  42  chickens,  13  cts.  each 5  46 

Total  proceeds $14  11 

Deduct  for  feed,  5  bu.  corn,  at  56  cts.  per  bu..  .$2  80 

"         "  6  bu.  oats,  at  38  cts.  per  bu 2  28     6  08 

Profits $903 

The  fowls  were  not  confined  at  all,  but  had  free  access  to  the  dung- 
hill and  a  quarter  acre  of  plowed  ground ;  and  no  attention  was  paid 
them  but  to  feed  them  regularly  twice  a  day,  the  corn  in  the  winter 
and  spring,  the  oats  in  the  summer  and  fall.  Valuing  the  hens  at 
twenty-five  cents  each,  the  above  shows  a  profit  of  nearly  three  hun- 
7 


146  SPANGLED    POLAND    FOWLS. 

dred  per  cent  on  the  capital  invested,  and  may  be  easily  secured  by 
any  family  living  in  the  open  country.  A  dozen  hens  may  run  at  large, 
except  in  seeding  and  harvest  time,  if  well  fed,  without  doing  much 
damage.  Experience  proves  that  this  kind  of  fowl  are  able  to  supply 
themselves  with  what  they  require  for  constant  laying,  except  food,  if 
allowed  their  liberty  on  broken  ground;  but  if  confined,  they  must 
be  furnished  with  all  they  can  consume  of  grain,  water,  lime,  gravel, 
and  a  little  meat  or  fat,  once  a  day  to  do  well. 

W. 

The  following  is  selected  from  one  of  the  Agricultural  jour- 
nals : 

"My  fowls  are  of  the  Poland  variety,  full-blooded,  jet  black,  except 
the  top-knot,  and  sometimes  two  partly  white  feathers  in  the  tail  of 
the  cock.  I  have  eight  hens.  They  have  laid  between  six  and  seven 
hundred  eggs,  from  March  1st  to  September,  and  raised  twenty-four 
chickens.  Being  engaged  in  building  an  addition  to  my  house,  my 
poultry  record  was  lost  for  a  time  in  August,  so  I  cannot  give  the 
exact  mimber  of  eggs.  But  it  will  be  within  the  bounds  of  truth,  to 
say  that  the  seven  hens,  laid  six  hundred  eggs  between  March  and 
September,  and  raised  twenty-four  chickens.  The  early  chickens 
commenced  laying  in  November,  and  have  continued  to  lay  until  the 
present  time,  with  the  exception  of  about  five  weeks  in  the  coldest 
weather.  Early  chickens,  at  maturity,  make  much  larger  fowls  than 
late  ones. 

"  The  cost  of  keeping  my  hens  has  been  forty  cents  per  year,  each. 
Living  in  a  village,  I  keep  them  housed  until  four  o'clock  in  the  after- 
noon, when  they  have  the  run  of  a  yard,  and  are  shut  up  at  night.  I 
usually  feed  screenings,  at  twenty  five  cents  per  bushel,  and  corn  at 
forty-five  to  fifty  cents.  My  early  spring  chickens  weigh  from  three 
to  three  and  a  half  pounds  in  the  fall,  when  dressed.  I  have  now 
twenty-four  hens,  and  expect  to  revel  in  fat  eggs  all  the  year." 


SPANGLED     POLAND     FOWLS. 

This  is  a  beautiful  variety  of  ornamental  fowls.  Richardson 
speaks  of  them  as  follows  : 

"The  Spangled  Polands  are  a  bird  of  extraordinary  beauty, 
extremely  scarce,  and  very  difficult  to  be  procured.  This  fowl  presents 
a  symmetrical  and  regular  combination  of  the  following  colors,  viz: 
A  bright  orange,  a  clear  white,  a  brilliant  green,  and  a  jetty  black, 
softened  down  with  a  rich  and  pure  brown,  every  feather  being  tipped 
with  white,  so  as  to  produce  the  effect  whence  has  been  derived  the 
term  of  SPANGLED.  The  color  of  the  hen  is  a  prevailing  golden  yellow, 
with  white  spangles,  like  the  cock.  In  the  cock,  the  thighs  are  black, 
and  are,  likewise,  though  in  a  less  degree,  marked  and  spangled  with 
black,  and  golden  yellow.  The  hinder  end  of  the  body  is  furnished 
with  green  and  orange-brown  hackles,  and  the  tail  is  carried  well  up. 


SPANGLED  POLAND  FOWLS.  147 

The  flesh  of  these  birds  is  of  good  quality,  and  they  are  very  prolific. 
They  also  fatten  quickly,  and  have,  by  some,  been  compared  to  the 
Dorking  for  similarity  of  flesh,  and  other  excellencies  of  quality.  I, 
however,  must  unequivocally  award  the  preference  to  the  latter  bird, 
independent  of  the  enhanced  price  occasioned  by  the  far  greater 
scarcity  of  the  former. 

Dr.  Bennett  says  in  his  work  on  Domestic  Poultry,  that  the 
fowls  known  as  Golden  Pheasants,  are  a  hybrid,  bred  from  the 
Spangled  Pol'and  and  Black  Poland  fowls.  It  is  said  that  a 
variety  of  white  Poland  fowls  exists,  with  black  tufts,  but  they 
are  very  scarce,  if  they  exist.  I  have  never  seen  any,  but  I 
believe  that  some  specimens  of  this  variety  were  exhibited  at 
the  Poultry  Fair  in  Boston,  in  1852.  There  are  also  some  other 
varieties  that  are  called  Poland  fowls,  but  their  reputation  does 
not  demand  a  particular  notice  in  a  practical  work  like  this. 


148 


SPANGLED    HAMBURGH    FOWLS. 


SPANGLED      HAMBURGH      FOWLS. 

This  breed,  though  beautiful,  are  scarce,  and  but  little  is  said 
about  them  in  the  journals  of  the  day.  There  are  two  varieties 
of  these  fowls,  the  silver  and  golden  Spangled.  They  are  said 
to  be  similar  in  size  and  form,  and  differ  in  color  only.  Nolan 
thus  describes  these  fowls : 

They  are  a  very  beautiful  variety  of  poultry,  distinguishable 
from  Spangled  Poland  fowls  by  their  large  top-knot  being  colored, 
instead  of  white,  and  their  black  and  conspicuous  ruff  on  their  throat, 
and  under  their  beak ;  they  approach  so  nearly  to  them  that  they  are 
frequently  confounded  with  each  other,  and  even  bred  together,  as  the 
same,  which  has  caused  the  Hamburgh  so  frequently  to  show  the 
white  feathers  in  their  top-knot,  and  the  Spangled  Polish  the  dark 
coloring  in  theirs ;  but  still  the  ruff  at  the  throat  distinguishes  the 


SPANGLED    HAMBURGH    FOWLS.  ]49 

fowl ;  the  chickens,  though  of  the  same  clutch,  sometimes  have  the 
ruff  at  the  throat,  and  some  of  the  same  may  be  without  it,  but  the 
breeders  designate  them  Spangled  Polish,  if  without  the  ruff,  and 
Spangled  Hamburgh,  if  they  happen  to  possess  it.  Perfectly  pure-bred 
birds,  of  either  variety,  are  easily  distinguished  from  each  other,  but 
are  difficult  to  procure.  The  ground  and  coloring  of  the  feathers 
differ  as  well  as  the  ruff  and  top-knot.  The  Spangled  Polish,  and 
perhaps  the  best  Spangled  Hamburghs  I  ever  imported,  were  shipped 
to  me  at  Rotterdam  and  turned  out  very  superior  birds.  Part  of  the 
lot  I  disposed  of  to  Arthur  Haffield,  Esq.,  of  the  Treasury,  Dublin 
Castle,  and  another  part  to  R.  P.  Williams,  Esq,  of  Drumcondra 
Castle.  Both  these  gentlemen  have  carefully  preserved  the  breed, 
and  I  venture  to  say,  their  experience,  for  years,  lias  not  found  a  bet- 
ter. So  superior  were  they  in  carriage  and  plumage,  that  the  latter 
gentleman  has  forwarded  some  specimens  to  the  London  Zoological 
Society's  show,  to  compete  with  all  England.  Their  weight  is  as  near 
as  possible  the  Black  and  Spangled  Polish,  or  perhaps,  a  little  more — 
say  six  and  a  half  pounds  for  the  cock,  and  about  five  and  a  half 
pounds  for  the  hen  ;  the  cock  stands  about  twenty-one  inches,  and  the 
hen  nineteen.  Jf  even  pure-bred,  this  bird  is  subdivided  into  golden 
and  silver  spangled,  the  ground  of  the  feathers  of  the  golden  spangled- 
being  a  rich  yellow,  approaching  to  an  orange  red,  with  black  spot  or 
spangle  ;  the  silver  spangled  differs  from  the  preceding,  by  the  ground 
of  the  feathers  being  a  silvery  white ;  both  are  frequently  obtainable 
in  the  same  clutch.  The  comb,  as  in  other  highly  crested  fowls,  is 
diminutive  ;  wattles,  small ;  hackles,  gold  or  silver  spangled,  according 
to  plumage ;  tail,  beautifully  plumed ;  legs,  blue  or  white ;  skin, 
white;  flesh,  white  and  juicy;  eggs,  a  moderate  size,  and  abundant; 
chickens,  easily  reared.  I  should  wish,  from  their  superior  beauty 
and  usefulness  as  layers,  they  were  more  abundant.  The  slightest 
cross  deteriorates  their  value  ;  they  may  be  truly  said  to  be  both  use- 
ful and  ornamental ;  they  are  just  such  birds  as  a  lady  of  good  taste 
would  wish  to  see  about  her  lawn  ;  and  she  would  not  be  disappointed 
if  she  wished  for  a  fresh  egg,  or  omelet  daily. 


150 


SPANGLED    HAMBURGH   FOWLS. 


E.    ABORN'S    HAMBURGH    FOWLS. 

The  above  portraits  represent  fowls  owned  by  Mr.  Edward 
Aborn,  No.  30  South  Water  street,  Providence,  R.  I.  They 
are  identical  with  the  breed,  the  portraits  of  which  precede 
these,  but  are  drawn  on  a  smaller  scale.  Mr.  Aborn  writes  rue 
as  follows : 

The  Silver  Spangled  Hamburgh  fowls  are  very  beautifuL  The 
ground  color  is  a  pure  white  spangled  with  black  on  each  feather, 
which,  in  the  rays  of  the  sun,  has  a  very  handsome  green  appearance. 
The  neck  and  saddle  hackles  of  the  cock,  are  striped  down  the  center 
with  black,  and  the  margin  is  a  pure  white.  The  tail  feathers  are 
mottled  with  black  and  white.  On  the  crest,  immediately  above  the 
beak,  are  two  small  fleshy  horns.  They  have  white  ear  lobes,  and  in 
place  of  a  comb,  they  have  a  very  large  black  and  white  tuft,  or  top- 
knot. Under  the  head  is  a  dark-colored  tuft,  like  a  beard.  Their  legs 
are  blue.  They  are  very  good  layers,  but  are  seldom  inclined  to  sit. 


BOLTON    GREY    FOWLS. 


151 


BOLTON      GREY,      OR      CREOLE      FOWLS. 

These  portraits  are  intended  to  represent  fowls  owned  by  Mr. 
John  F.  Brown,  of  Woonsocket,  R.  L,  but  as  these  are  a  small 
fowl,  the  cuts  give  an  impression  that  they  are  larger  than  they 
really  are.  It  is  not  an  easy  matter  to  produce  portraits  that 
shall  always  give  a  true  idea  of  the  relative  size  of  fowls. 

This  breed  of  fowls  are  great  favorites,  wherever  known. 
They  are  truly  beautiful,  especially  the  chickens,  when  quite 
young.  They  attain  their  natural  shape  at  an  early  age,  and 
have  the  appearance  of  Bantams,  when  half  grown. 

These  fowls  are  celebrated  as  layers,  above  all  other  qualities. 
John  N.  A.  Kobb,  Esq.,  of  Pa.,  thus  writes  me : 

The  Bolton  Grey,  or  Creole  fowl,  is  a  great  favorite  in  this  State, 
the  hens  of  which  are  noted  as  being  constant  layers.  They  are 
small  in  size,  and  plumply  made  ;  their  legs  are  short,  and  of  a  bluish 
color ;  feathers  of  the  genuine  breed  are  white  on  the  neck ;  the  body, 
white,  thickly  spotted  with  black;  comb,  very  large  and  double; 
wattles,  also  large.  They  are  good  layers,  but  very^  poor  nurses.  I 
have  a  favorite  hen  of  this  species,  six  years  old,  which  never  mani- 
fested a  desire  to  set  for  a  greater  length  of  time  than  two  or  three 
days,  aiid  then  has  left  her  nest  entirely.  These  fowls  are  not  as 


152 


BOLTON    GREY    FOWLS. 


BO  L  TON      GREY     HEN. 

hardy  as  many  of  our  other  breeds,  nor  are  they  as  highly  esteemed 
for  table  use.  Their  principal  recommendation  is  their  laying  qualities. 

D.  Taggart,  Esq.,  of  Northumberland,  Pa.,  in  a  letter  to  me, 
says: 

For  continued  laying,  uninterrupted  by  the  desire  to  sit.  the  pure 
Creoles,  or  Bolton  Greys,  have  no  superiors.  I  have  known  some  of 
the  hens  to  live  seven  or  eight  years  without  evincing  the  slightest 
disposition  to  incubate.  From  180  to  200  eggs,  is  no  uncommon  yield 
for  a  hen  of  this  breed,  the  first  year.  With  every  subsequent  year, 
however,  the  number  diminishes,  until  entire  barrenness  supervenes. 
This  occurs  generally  about  the  sixth  or  seventh  year,  in  hens  like  the 
Polish  and  Creoles,  whose  ovaries  are  seldom  rested  by  incubation,  and 
later,  of  course  in  those  that  are  allowed  to  sit  whenever  they  have 
a  desire,  producing  only  70  or  80  eggs  a  year. 

The  Creoles  are  rather  below  the  medium  size,  weighing  from  three 
to  four  and  a  half  pounds.  For  uniformity  of  size,  shape  and  color,  I 
have  never  known  their  equal.  They  are  so  well  described  in  the 
books,  as  to  need  no  further  description  from  me. 


BOLTON    GREY    FOWLS.  153 


BOLTON      GREYS. 

The  fowls  here  portrayed  are  identical  with  the  breed  owned 
by  Mr.  Brown,  and  fully  as  large.  They  are  said  to  be  some 
of  the  choicest  stock  of  Bolton  Greys  to  be  found  in  New  Eng- 
land. Mr.  Aborn  says : 

This  is  a  beautiful  little  breed,  plump  in  their  make — ground  color, 
a  pure  white,  spotted  with  black,  and  sometimes  running  into  a  grizzle. 
The  legs,  blue ;  tail,  black ;  double,  or  rose  comb,  of  a  bright  red 
color.  The  cock  is  mostly  white  ;  breast  and  wings,  slightly  spotted. 
The  hen's  neck  is  a  pure  white,  and  when  she  is  in  laying  order,  she 
spreads  her  tail  like  a  fan. 

They  are  most  excellent  layers.  Their  flesh  is  inferior  in  quality  to 
other  breeds.  They  are  non-setters.  To  those  who  wish  to  keep  a 
few  fowls,  for  fresh  eggs,  I  would  highly  recommend  this  breed.  They 
are  very  hardy,  and  easily  kept. 

The  following  are  selections  from  good  authorities  : 

"  They  are  a  very  handsome  little  fowl,  frequently  imported  from 
Holland,  but  seem  to  have  made  a  stand  in  Bolton,  in  Lancashire, 
from  whence  they  are  named,  and  where  they  are  a  strong  feature 
amongst  the  prize  poultry,  shown  for  feather.  The  ground  color  of 
the  Bolton  Greys  is  pure  white,  beautifully  and  minutely  touched  with 
black,  originating  the  appellation  of  penciled  fowl.  Bolton  Bays  are 
precisely  the  same  fowl,  but  not  so  abundant — the  only  difference 
being  the  ground  of  the  feather  is  a  Rufus  yellow ;  the  markings,  or 
penciling  is  precisely  the  same  as  in  the  Greys.  There  is  not  the 
slightest  distinction  between  the  two,  in  any  other  respect.  They  are 
known  by  provincial  names,  in  various  parts  of  the  country.  In  the 
neighborhood  of  London,  from  the  frequency  of  their  being  brought 
7* 


154  BOLTON    GREY   FOWLS. 

over  by  the  Rotterdam  steamers,  they  are  denominated  'Butch  Pen- 
ciled Fowl,'  or  'Dutch  Every-day  LayeiV  They  are  an  entirely  dis- 
tinct fowl,  both  in  feathering,  size,  shape,  and  markings,  and  cannot 
be  confounded  with  any  other.  The  nearest  approach  to  them,  is  the 
Silver  Pheasant  fowl ;  their  markings  are,  however,  decidedly  different. 
They  are  more  generally  known  and  longer  established  in  England 
than  the  Pheasant  Fowl,  and  have  been  called  by  various  names,  in 
the  different  localities  through  which  they  are  dispersed;  they  are  a 
neat,  plump-bodied  fowl,  healthy  and  hardy,  very  nice  on  the  table 
as  a  substitute  for  young  chickens ;  their  flesh,  white  and  juicy ;  their 
bodies,  plump  and  round.  The  cock  weighs  about  four  and  three 
quarters  pounds,  and  stands  seventeen  inches  high  :  the  hen,  four 
pounds,  and  stands  fifteen  and  a  half  inches  high ;  the  plumage,  des- 
cribed above  ;  the  comb,  double  rosed,  with  sharp  top,  free  from  top- 
knot; ear  lobes,  white;  wattles,  large  and  round;  hackles,  pencil- 
touched,  or  white ;  tail,  inclined  to  be  dark ;  legs,  blue  or  white ;  eggs, 
most  abundant,  but  small ;  chickens,  handsome,  and  easily  reared. 
They  are  beautiful  ladies'  pets ;  require  but  little  care ;  are  truly 
ornamental  on  a  lawn  or  grass  plot ;  and  if  the  lady  be  a  lover  of  a 
fresh  egg,  she  will  not  be  disappointed  by  the  '  Dutch  Every-day 
Layers.'  " — Nolan. 

"  They  are  small  in  size,  short  in  the  leg,  and  plump  in  the  make ; 
the  color  of  the  genuine  kind  invariably  pure  white  in  the  whole 
lappel  of  the  neck ;  the  body,  white,  thickly  spotted  with  bright 
black,  sometimes  running  into  grizzle,  with  one  or  more  black  bars  at 
the  extremity  of  the  tail.  They  are  chiefly  esteemed  as  very  constant 
layers,  though  their  color  would  also  mark  them  for  good  table  fowls." 
— Mowbray. 

"  They  are  white,  with  black  spots  all  over,  except  the  neck,  which 
is  perfectly  white.  Their  tails  are  more  fan-like,  or  displayed,  during 
laying  time,  and  their  rumps  present  a  fuller,  or  more  elevated  appear- 
ance, than  other  fowls.  The  ends  of  the  tail  feathers  are  generally 
blackish.  They  are  capital  layers,  but  poor  sitters." 


GUELDEKLAND    FOWLS. 


155 


GUELDERLAND      FOWLS. 

This  is  a  pure  breed  of  fowls,  possessing  some  singular 
peculiarities.  They  are  non-incubators,  like  the  Black  Polands 
and  Black  Spanish  fowls,  and  are  of  about  the  same  size. 
Neither  the  cocks  nor  the  pullets  have  combs ;  but  they  have 
a  hard,  bony  indentation,  of  a  dark  color,  in  the  place  of  a 
comb.  They  are  fowls  of  a  peculiar  dignity  and  grace  in  their 
carriage,  being  lofty  in  bearing ;  and  the  extended  dimensions 
of  their  tail  feathers  adds  much  to  their  beauty.  Their  plumage 
is  of  a  beautiful  blue-black,  and  bearing  a  brilliant  gloss  at 
certain  seasons.  Their  legs  are  dark-colored,  and  are  sometimes 
feathered ;  wattles,  large ;  eggs,  a  pure  white,  and  about  equal 
in  laying  qualities  to  the  Black  Poland  fowls,  or  perhaps,  the 
Black  Spanish. 

I  received  a  trio  of  these  fowls  from  the  yard  of  G.  H. 
Bacheler,  Esq.,  Lynn',  Mass.,  last  season,  and  I  found  them  to 
be  very  good  layers.  They  are  truly  portrayed  by  the  engrav- 
ings here  annexed,  but  they  never  can  become  very  popular,  on 
account  of  their  dark-colored  legs,  and  the  same  delicate  nature 


166  GUELDERLAND    FOWLS. 


GUELDERLAND      HEN. 

that  the  Black  Poland,  and  Black  Spanish  fowls  possess ;  as  a 
fowl  that  is  not  highly  valued  as  a  table  or  market  fowl,  can 
never  be  held  in  the  highest  scale  of  public  esteem,  except  as 
layers  or  for  certain  other  qualities  of  an  inferior  grade. 
Geo.  A.  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Macon,  Ga.,  writes  me  as  follows : 

These  are  a  fine  fowl  for  ornament,  and  very  good  layers  and  sitters. 
I  do  not  think  them  good  for  the  table.  When  walking,  their  heads 
and  tails  touch.  They  have  no  combs,  bnt  large  gills.  I  think  they 
will  breed  in-and-in  always,  without  degenerating. 

I  am  indebted  to  H.  L»  Devereux,  Esq.,  of  Boston,  for  the 
following  description  of  this  breed  : 

The  pure  black  Guelderland  fowl,  has  never,  to  my  knowledge,  been 
described  in  any  of  the  poultry  books  published  in  England  or  this 
country.  They  were  imported  from  the  north  of  Holland,  in  the 
month  of  May,  1842,  by  Captain  John  Devereux,  of  Marblehead, 
Mass.,  in  the  ship  Dromo,  on  his  voyage  from  Amsterdam  to  Boston ; 
and  since  that  time,  they  have  been  bred  by  him  at  his  place  in  that 
town,  entirely  distinct  from  any  other  breed.  They  are  supposed  to 
have  originated  in  the  north  part  of  Holland.  They  have  no  com  b, 
but  a  small,  indented,  hard,  bony  substance  instead ;  and  large,  red 
wattles.  Their  legs  are  of  a  shining  black,  smooth,  and  without 
feathers,  except  in  a  very  few  instances.  Dr.  B.,  in  his  work,  is  by 
some  means  led  into  error.  Where  the  legs  are  " heavily  feathered" 


NATIVE    DOMINIQUE    FOWLS.  157 

I  am  inclined  to  think  they  have  been  crossed  with  the  dark  Shanghae  ; 
such  crosses  I  have  seen.  In  a  flock  of  some  twenty  or  thirty,  you 
may,  perhaps,  see  some  two  or  three  slightly  feathered  upon  the  legs. 
Such  is  the  fact  with  regard  to  those  bred  in  our  yard,  from  the  old 
imported  fowls.  Their  flesh  is  white,  tender,  and  juicy,  making  valu- 
able poultry  for  the  table.  They  are  of  good  size,  great  layers,  seldom 
or  never  inclined  to  sit,  bright,  active  birds,  and  are  not  surpassed  in 
point  of  beauty  or  utility,  by  any  breed  known  in  this  country.  The 
uniform  aspect  which  is  observable  in  their  progeny,  is  a  proof  of  the 
purity  of  the  breed. 

H.  L.  DEVEEETJX. 


NATIVE     DOMINIQUE     FOWLS. 

In  this  breed  my  readers  will  recognize  a  native  race  of 
fowls,  of  considerable  merit ;  and  the  blood  and  purity  of  which 
remain  unadulterated  in  a  remarkable  degree.  It  will  hardly 
be  necessary  to  give  a  detailed  description  of  this  breed,  so  well 
known  in  almost  every  farm-yard  in  the  country.  They  are  a 
blue-speckled,  variegated,  or  penciled  fowl,  of  medium  size, 
hardy,  well-formed,  and  prolific,  and  may  be  considered  as  one 
of  our  best  native  breeds.  They  seem  to  be  proof 'against  a 
mixture  of  blood,  in  ordinary  cases,  when  running  in  the  same 


158  SILVER    PHEASANT    FOWLS. 

yard  with  other  breeds,  provided  both  cocks  and  hens  of  this 
breed  are  present.  They  are  said  to  have  come  originally  from 
the  island  of  Dominica.  Mr.  G.  C.  Pierce,  of  Danvers,  Mass., 
says  :  "  Taken  all  in  all,  I  consider  them  to  be  one  of  the  best 
native  breeds  of  fowls,  that  we  have,  and  I  do  not  know  any 
breed  that  alters  so  little  by  in-and-in  breeding.  They  are  first 
rate  layers,  and  good  sitters  and  nurses."  In  brief,  I  can  say, 
that  a  better  native  fowl  will  be  very  hard  to  find. 


SILVER     PHEASANT     FOWLS. 

Here  we  have  a  charming  breed  of  little  fowls — perfect 
beauties  in  every  respect,  and  remarkable  for  great  brilliancy 
of  plumage,  and  diversity  of  colors.  Dr.  Bennett  thus  describes 
them: 

On  a  white  ground,  which  is  usually  termed  silvery,  there  is  an 
abundance  of  black  spots.  The  feathers  on  the  upper  part  of  the 
head  are  much  longer  than  the  rest,  and  unite  together  in  a  tuft. 
They  have  a  small,  double  comb,  and  their  wattles  are  also  compara- 
tively small.  A  remarkable  peculiarity  of  the  cock  is,  that  there  is  a 
spot  of  a  blue  color  on  the  cheeks,  and  a  range  of  feathers  under  the 
throat,  which  has  the  appearance  of  a  collar. 

The  hen  is  a  smaller  bird,  with  similar  plumage  to  the  cock,  and  at 
a  little  distance  seems  to  be  covered  with  scales.  On  the  head  is  a 
top-knot  of  very  large  size,  which  droops  over  it  on  every  side.  These 
are  beautiful  and  showy  birds,  and  are  chiefly  valuable  as  ornamental 
appendages  to  the  poultry-yard. 


FRIZZLED    FOWLS. 


159 


FRIZZLED     FOWLS. 

Old  Dame  Nature  cuts  some  curious  freaks,  as  the  above 
fowls  manifest.  Not  being  content  to  allow  all  fowls  to  have 
their  feathers  lie  smoothly  from  head  to  tail,  she  must  evince 
her  caprice  by  turning  the  feathers  around  on  the  above  fowls, 
and  have  them  point  towards  the  head  !  The  above  portraits 
are  from  life,  and  give  a  very  correct  idea  of  the  figure  of  the 
fowls.  They  are  a  curiosity,  to  say  the  least  of  them.  They 
are  bred  by  a,  few  New  England  fanciers,  and  are  sold  as  an 
ornamental  fowl.  What  their  laying  qualities  are,  I  am  not 
fully  prepared  to  say,  but  Nolan  gives  them  a  good  character 
for  productiveness.  He  says  : 

They  arc  healthy,  hardy,  and  abundant  layers,  good  sitters,  and  no 
better  mothers,  and  the  chickens  easily  reared,  and  though,  to  appear- 
ance, they  are  exposed  to  the  inclemency  of  the  weather,  they  are  not 
so,  having  an  abundant  downy  covering  under  their  feathers,  and 
well  calculated  for  bringing  up  their  own,  or  any  -other  stock.  I  can 
with  confidence  recommend  them  as  mothers,  for  Game  fowl,  (I  mean 
Pheasants,  Capercalzie,  Black-cock,  Ptarmigan,  Grouse,  or  Partridge,) 
and  are  just  as  easily  kept  as  the  commonest  cottage  breed  ;  they  are 
of  all  colors ;  of  the  ordinary  size  of  our  domestic  fowl ;  are  said  to 
be  of  eastern  origin.  The  cock  weighs  about  five  pounds,  and  stands 
about  eighteen  inches  high ;  the  hen  about  four  and  a  half  pounds, 
and  stands  about  sixteen  inches  high.  The  plumage  has  a  truly  sin- 
gular appearance,  each  feather  being  curled  up,  and  projecting  from 
the  bird ;  the  comb  rather  large,  serrated  and  erect ;  free  from  top- 
knot ;  ears  and  cheeks  of  ordinary  appearance ;  wattles,  large  and 
rounded ;  hackles,  to  correspond  with  their  color ;  tail,  plumed  as  in 
other  fowls ;  legs,  of  the  various  colors  of  the  bird. 


1GO  RUMPLESS    FOWLS. 

BAVARIAN      FOWLS. 

This  breed  is  of  the  crested,  or  top-knot  race  of  fowls,  and 
do  not  differ  materially  in  general  characteristics  from  the 
Poland  or  Spanish  fowls,  except  that  they  are  good  sitters  and 
nurses.  They  are  not  a  common  fowl  in  the  market,  and  few 
are  bred  in  this  country.  I  take  it  for  granted  that  there  is 
nothing  particularly  desirable  pertaining  to  them.  Dr.  Bennett 
describes  them  as  follows  : 

The  plumage  of  this  fowl  is  jet  black,  and  they  have  also  black 
legs,  frequently  feathered  heavily.  Both  cocks  and  hens  are  muffled 
with  a  heavy  "  imperial,"  or  "  goat-beard,"  under  the  throat,  and 
usually  quite  a  crest,  or  top-knot,  much  resembling,  in  all  these 
respects,  the  Golden  Pheasant ;  with  this  difference,  however,  that  the 
crest  of  the  Bavarian  is  smaller,  and  the  imperial  larger,  the  muffler 
being  about  the  same  in  both  breeds.  Tails  and  wings  longer  than 
most  of  the  large  breeds,  excepting  the  Dorkings. 

The  eggs  are  usually  large,  white,  and  well -flavored.  They  are 
among  the  very  best  layers,  and  are  good  sitters,  and  careful  nurses. 
The  weight  is  generally  from  five  to  eight  pounds.  They  come  to 
maturity  very  early,  are  more  hardy  than  either  of  the  two  preceding 
varieties,  and  the  chickens  are  very  easily  raised.  Although  I  esteem 
the  Guelderland  and  the  Spanish  fowls  as  pure  breeds,  and  excellent 
in  all  respects,  yet  I  prefer  these,  especially  on  account  of  the  size  of 
their  eggs. 

Occasionally  one  of  this  breed,  of  perfectly  pure  blood,  may  be  seen 
entirely  destitute  of  a  crest,  with  a  large  muffler,  small  imperial,  and 
lightly  feathered  legs.  Those  with  these  marks  are  usually  the  best, 
being  larger  and  better  layers. 


KUMPLESS     FOWLS. 

This  is  a  breed  of  fowls  without  tails — another  freak  of  nature. 
Several  varieties  of  this  race  of  fowls  are  bred  in  this  country, 
and  their  character  is  well  known  in  many  places.  They  pos- 
sess the  various  good  qualities  of  our  common  fowls,  differing 
in  nowise,  save  in  the  lack  of  a  tail.  Where  this  breed  origi- 
nated, is  not  known,  nor  is  it  important  to  know  whether  they 
came  from  the  North  pole,  Si  ram's  hole  in  the  center  of  the 
earth,  or  from  the  tropics.  Main  says : 

Some  writers,  among  whom  is  Temminck,  consider  this  bird  a  dis- 
tinct species,  rather  than  a  variety ;  the  wild  breed  from  which  it 
originated  still  existing,  and  confined  to  the  deep  forests  of  Ceylon. 
Its  principal  characteristic  is  the  want  of  a  tail,  hence  its  name, 
Rumpless  Fowl,  by  which  it  is  more  commonly  known  ;  though  in  the 
wild  bird  the  comb  is  not  indented,  and  the  wattles  are  blood-colored 


ITALY   FOWLS.  161 

rather  than  scarlet  This  bird  was  early  domesticated  in  this  country, 
and  from  the  fact  of  their  being  early  seen  in  Virginia  by  trayelers,  Buf- 
fon  imagined  they  were  indigenous  there.  One  of  the  most  singular 
facts  about  this  bird  is  its  entire  destitution  of  the  gland  on  the  rump, 
from  which  it  is  supposed  common  fowls  derive  their  stores  of  oil  to 
smooth  their  feathers  and  protect  them  from  rain.  As  the  feathers  of 
the  Rumpkin  are  not  less  smooth  than  those  of  other  fowls,  and  shed 
rain  equally  well,  it  would  seem  this  gland  was  destined  to  perform 
some  other  office,  and  that  the  common  notion  on  this  subject  had  little 
foundation  in  fact.  In  the  wild  breeds,  the  feathers  are  all  of  a  dusky 
orange,  and  this,  on  a  reddish  brown,  seems  to  prevail  among  the 
domesticated  ones.  There  are,  however,  some  instances  in  which  the 
common  birds  are  finely  variegated — one  of  which  is  in  the  possession 
of  the  writer. 

This  breed  is  looked  upon  by  some  to  be  a  native  of  Persia.  Buf- 
fon  thinks,  on  the  contrary,  that  Virginia  is  the  place  whence  it  sprang. 
He  grounded  his  opinion,  on  the  one  hand,  on  what  is  reported  by  the 
Philosophical  Transactions  of  1693,  that  when  fowls  are  taken  to  that 
country,  they  seem  to  lose  their  rumps;  and  on  the  other,  on  natural- 
ists having  only  begun  to  mention  fowls  without  tails,  after  the  dis- 
covery of  America.  I  am  not  of  that  opinion,  says  Main,  whieh 
appears  not  admissible.  In  fact,  modern  travelers  have  not  confirmed 
the  loss  of  the  rump,  which  the  English  experience  in  Virginia,  and  it 
is  positively  known,  that  in  the  other  parts  of  America,  in  the  hottest 
even,  this  privation  daes  not  take  place. 


ITALY     FO  WLS. 

Whether  the  above  fowls  are  entitled  to  the  name  of  a  dis- 
tinct breed,  I  am  unable  to  say.  But  little  notoriety  has  been 
given  them,  and  the  works  on  domestic  poultry  do  not  describe 
them.  Mr.  S.  Y.  Clark,  of  K  J.,  thus  writes  : 

Understanding  that  you  are  going  to  dish  us  up  with  some  sketches 
and  samples  of  poultry,  I  offer  an  account  of  a  kind  which  is  common 
in  our  neighborhood.  Where  they  came  from,  I  do  not  recollect;  but, 
considering  this  of  secondary  importance,  admitting  them  to  be 
exotics,  I  will  proceed  to  describe  them. 

They  are  known  here  by  the  name  of  "Italy  Fowls,"  and  in  appear- 
ance differ  mainly  from  others  by  their  large  combs,  which,  in  some 
of  the  males,  are  from  one  and  a  half  to  two  inches  broad,  double, 
and  covering  the  entire  crown  of  the  head.  They  are  about  medium 
eize,  of  a  color  varying  from  mottled  grey  to  a  light  dun.  In  some 
males,  however,  the  predominating  color  is  red.  The  full  bloods,  have 
rather  blue  legs  and  skins,  which,  in  my  opinion,  is  their  only  fault. 
But  they  mix  freely  with  other  breeds,  and  with  little  care,  they  can 
be  had  with  bright  yellow  legs  and  skins.  The  texture  of  their  flesh 
is  fine  and  well  flavored,  and  they  come  to  perfection  earlier  than  any 
other  breed  I  have  ever  had.  I  have  five  or  six  breeds  of  fowls,  but 


162  TONQUIN    FOWLS. 

these  much  outdo  the  Polands  in  appearance,  and  are  equal,  if  not 
superior,  in  laying  qualities.  They  also  appear  to  be  both  hardy  and 
healthy. 

I  see,  by  footing  up  my  store  book  from  April  last  to  December  first, 
that  from  forty  hens,  in  three  different  locations,  yet  contiguous,  I 
have  sold  2,940  eggs,  besides  using  freely  for  cooking  in  my  family, 
<fcc.  Two-thirds  of  the  time,  the  hens  were  not  fed,  but  unrestrained 
as  to  roving,  having  the  use  of  the  barn  and  range  of  the  farm.  I 
also  sold  last  fall,  $7  worth  of  males  for  killing,  which  grieved  me  to 
see  so  many  beautiful  birds  cooped  up  at  once  ;  for  had  they  been 
scattered  among  farmers,  they  would  have  done  an  immense  deal  of 
good. 


I  ONQUIN     FOWLS. 

This  breed  is  among  the  undescribed  fowls  in  the  books  on 
the  subject.  I  know  nothing  in  regard  to  them,  except  the 
following : 

Mr.  Miner, — I  consider  Tonquins  far  superior  to  the  Dorkings. 
They  are  larger,  and  will  lay  nearly  twice  as  many  eggs  before  sitting. 
There  are  two  varieties — white  and  speckled.  They  are  muffled,  and 
generally  have  five  toes.  The  cock,  when  grown,  will  weigh  ten 
pounds,  the  hen,  six  pounds.  This  fowl  is  fine  for  table  purposes ; 
flesh,  very  white.  Chicks,  easily  raised* 

GEO.  A.  SMITH. 

Macon,  Geo. 

The  following  is  selected  from  the  "  Old  Colony  Memorial : " 

The  Tonquins  are  very  handsome  fowls,  and  are  usually  five-toed, 
tall,  and  well  proportioned.  In  color,  they  are  not  uniform,  being 
sometimes  white  and  sometimes  variegated.  They  have  a  rose-comb, 
medium  wattles,  and  are  frequently  muffled,  but  free  from  top-knot. 
The  tail  of  these  birds  is  shorter,  and  their  legs  are  longer  than  those 
of  the  Dorking,  and  they  do  not  unfrequently  resemble  them  in  color. 
They  are  surpassingly  excellent  table  fowls,  their  flesh  being  abundant, 
white,  and  juicy.  They  are  very  superior  layers  of  large  and  well- 
flavored  eggs.  Mr.  J.  J.  Nolan,  of  Dublin,  in  his  great  work  on 
"Domestic  Fowl,"  &c.,  says:  "the  Dorking  does  not  come  to  full 
growth  till  two  years  old,"  and  the  remark  is  equally  true  of  the 
Tonquin,  and  all  other  largo  fowls,  though  they  are  fit  for  market  at 
six  months  old,  frequently  attaining  a  weight  of  eight  pounds  at  that 
age.  Their  usual  weight  at  maturity,  is  from  seven  to  ten  pounds 
each.  Their  chickens  are  easily  reared,  and  they  are  healthy,  and 
stand  this  climate  better  than  other  chickens  that  feather  at  so  early 
an  age.  As  these  fowls  have  great  abundance  of  flesh,  and  very 
email  offal,  none  are  better  calculated  to  add  to  the  profits  of  the 
farm-yard,  and,  very  few  surpass  them  in  beauty.  They  are  well 
calculated  for  emasculation,  and  are  amongst  the  easiest  fowls  fatted. 
These  are  birds  of  unflinching  courage,  and  eager  for  the  combat,  and 


SILKY   FOWLS.  1G3 

in  this  respect,  and  the  fine  and  savory  quality  of  their  flesh,  they 
closely  resemble  the  famous  Sumatra  Game.  The  imported  Tonquins 
are  in  my  possession,  but  no  others  of  this  excellent  breed  are  to  be 
found  in  America,  except  those  owned  by  Mr.  George  A.  Smith,  of 
Georgia,  who  has  one  of  the  most  extensive  varieties  of  pure 
blooded  imported  fowls  in  the  country.  ' 


SILKY     FOWLS. 

These  are  a  singular  bird,  and  another  specimen  of  Nature's 
curious  freaks  among  the  feathered  races.  They  are  covered 
with  down,  somewhat  resembling  silk  in  its  raw  state.  Mr. 
Bement,  in  his  Poulterer's  Companion,  says : 

This  bird  by  modern  writers,  is  considered  a  species,  rather  than  a 
variety.  It  is  of  good  size,  and  the  whole  body  is  covered  with 
feathers,  the  webs  of  which  are  disunited,  somewhat  in  the  manner 
of  some  of  the  feathers  of  the  ostrich  and  the  peacock,  and  appear 
some  like  hairs  and  glossy  silk.  The  legs  are  covered  on  the  outside 
to  the  toes.  Individuals  of  this  sort  differ  in  respect  to  color  as  in 
other  varieties  ;  some  are  pure  white,  and  others  of  a  dingy  brown ; 
and  all  of  them  with  dark-colored  legs ;  nor  are  the  legs  always 
feathered.  The  bird  is  indigenous  in  Japan,  where  it  is  much  prized, 
and  is  also  found  in  China,  where  they  are  frequently  offered  in  cages 
for  sale  to  the  Europeans.  The  skin  and  bones  are  said  to  be  black, 
which  gives  it  when  cooked,  an  unfavorable  appearance,  on  which 
account  it  is  in  disrepute. 

Some  splendid  specimens  of  the  white  Silky  Fowl  were 
exhibited  at  the  Fair  of  the  New  England  Poultry  Society,  at 
Boston,  September  1852. 


1C4  BANTAM    FOWLS. 


SIB     JOHff      SEABRIGHT     BANTAMS. 

Having  given  descriptions  of  all  the  larger  breeds  of  fowls, 
tliat  I  'consider  important  to  the  practical  fowl  breeder,  I  close 
with  the  most  diminutive  race,  the  Bantams.  The  Seabright 
Bantams  derive  their  name  from  Sir  John  Seabright,  the  origi- 
nal importer  into  England,  and  for  beauty,  are,  perhaps, 
unequaled  by  any  other  variety.  They  now  command  the 
highest  price  of  any  Bantams  in  this  country — selling  at  $15 
to  $25  a  pair.  I  do  not  own  any,  but  have  negociated  for 
some,  to  be  received  in  1853.  There  are  two  varieties  of  the 
Seabright  Bantams,  the  gold  and  the  silver  laced.  Mr.  Giles' 
are  the  silver  laced.  So  Dr.  Bennett  says,  but  none  the  worse 
for  that,  I  presume.  Mr.  Giles  writes  me  as  follows : 

The  Seabright  Bantams  are  the  meet  beautiful  of  all  the  puny  tribes 
of  poultry.  The  cocks  are  splendid  little  fellows,  and  will  weigh 
when  full  grown,  about  twelve  to  sixteen  ounces ;  the  hens  weigh 
from  eight  to  twelve  ounces.  The  ground-color  of  their  plumage  is 
cream  or  orange  brown.  Those  having  the  orange  color  are  called  the 
Golden  Seabrights ;  and  the  cream-colored,  the  Silver  Seabrights.  The 
outer  edge  of  every  feather  is  beautifully  penciled  with  black,  with 
the  most  perfect  uniformity.  The  cock  is  hentailed,  and  free  from 
hackle.  This  breed  is  perfectly  clean  legged.  The  hens  lay  abun- 
dantly, and  are  good  sitters  and  mothers. 


BANTAM    FOWLS. 


165 


As  late  as  1847,  fowls  of  this  breed  were  sold  in  England  for  £60 
($250,)  per  pair ;  and  now,  in  this  country,  they  readily  command  $25 
per  pair.  As  to  whether  they  are  really  worth  that  amount  of 
money,  is  a  question  which  fanciers  and  anxious  purchasers  must 
settle  among  themselves. 

I  am  yours  respectfully,  JOHN  GILES. 


COL.     MARK     NOBLES     BANTAMS. 

The  above  are  portraits  from  life  of  Col.  Noble's  Golden 
Laced  Seabright  Bantams,  whose  stock  is  known  to  be  equal,  if 
not  superior  to  any  other  Bantams  in  this  country.  They  are 
of  his  own  importing,  and  are  said  to  be  the  best  that  England 
can  produce.  I  am  to  receive  an  importation  from  the  same 
English  stock,  previously  alluded  to.  Gentlemen  who  have 
seen  these  fowls  in  Col.  Noble's  yards,  assure  me  that  they 
excel  any  thing  in  the  Bantam  line  ever  before  imported.  They 
were  secured  through  Dr.  Bennett's  influence,  as  the  following 
letter  shows  : 

Col.  Mark  Noble, — In  giving  you  a  history  of  your  imported  Sea- 
bright  Bantams,  I  cannot  do  better  than  to  quote  the  exact  language 
of  Mrs.  S.  H.  Hosier  Williams,  of  Eaton  Mascott,  W.  Shrewsbury, 
England,  in  a  letter  to  me  of  Dec.  24th,  1852.  Mrs.  Williams  says : 

"By  the  same  ship,  I  shall  also  send,  pursuant  to  your  orders,  three 
pairs  of  very  first  rate  Seabright  Bantams — the  golden  sort — as  good 
as  they  can  possibly  be  had.  The  Silver  Seabrights  you  asked  for, 
are  at  present  unattainable.  The  breed  seems  extinct.  There  were 


166  BANTAM    FOWLS. 

only  three  or  four  very  indifferent  specimens  shown  at  Birmingham, 
but"  these  are  the  very  best  to  be  had.  I  had  the  parents  of  these 
Bantams  from  Sir  J.  Seabrigkt  himself,  and  every  year  I  take  a  prize 
for  them  at  Birmingham,  also  at  Halifax,  and  every  where  they  haATe 
been  shown.  I  sell  them  at  £3,  3s.  the  pair,  and  have  had  much 
trouble  to  secure  these  for  you,  so  numerous  are  the  applications  for 
them." 

Thus,  my  dear  Colonel,  I  have  succeeded  in  securing  some  of  Sir 
John  Seabright's  best  stock  of  Bantams,  through  the  agency  of  Mrs. 
S.  H.  Hosier  Williams,  one  of  the  most  successful  and  intelligent 
breeders  of  the  feathered  race  in  England.  Her  stock,  and  that  of 
her  friend,  Win.  Gust  Gwynne,  M.  D.,  of  Sandbach,  Cheshire,  Eng- 
land, cannot  be  excelled  by  any  in  the  world.  The  first  Brahma 
Pootra  fowls  I  shipped  to  England  were  sent  to  Mrs.  Williams  and 
Dr.  Gwynne.  Your  Scab  right  Bantams  are  of  the  best  gold  laced 
Seabrights  ever  imported,  and  equal  in  all  respects  to  the  celebrated 
silver  laced  imported  Seabrights  of  John  Giles,  Esq.,  of  Providence. 
One  of  my  other  pairs  died  on  the  passage  over,  and  the  other  pair, 
just  like  yours,  I  sold  to  George  Smith,  Esq.,  of  Valley  Falls,  R.  I. 
Yours  is  the  old  pair,  and  consequently  much  better  to  breed  from 
than  younger  ones,  as  the  progeny  will  be  much  more  vigorous  and 
valuable.  On  this  account  I  must  charge  you  $10  more  than  I  do 
Mr.  Smith,  and  shall  claim  from  you  ari  extra  pair  from  these  truly 
magnificent  birds. 

Yours  respectfully,  JOHN  C.  BENNETT. 

Fort  des  Moines,  Iowa. 

Dixon  says,  in  reference  to  tlie  cocks  of  this  breed : 

His  coat  is  of  a  rich,  brownish  yellow ;  almost  every  feather  ia 
edged  with  a  border  of  a  darker  hue,  approaching  to  black.  His  neat, 
slim  legs,  are  of  a  light,  dull  lead  color ;  his  ample  tail  is  carried  well 
over  his  back.  His  dependent  wings  nearly  touch  the  ground.  He  is 
as  upright  as  the  stiffest  drilled  sergeant,  or  more  so,  for  he  appears 
now  and  then  as  if  he  would  fall  backwards,  like  a  horse  that  over- 
rears  himself.  His  full,  rose-comb,  and  deep  depending  wattles,  are 
plump  and  red ;  but  their  disproportionate  size  affords  a  most  unfor- 
tunate hold  for  the  beak  of  his  adversary;  but  he  cares  not  for  that 
— a  little  glory  is  worth  a  good  deal  of  pecking  and  pinching,  and  it 
is  not  a  slight  punishment,  nor  a  merely  occasional  infliction  of  it,  that 
will  make  him  give  in.  The  great  hens,  too,  that  look  down  upon 
him,  and  over  him,  think  proper  to  battle  with  him  on  a  first  intro- 
duction, though  they  afterwards  find  out  that  they  might  as  well  have 
received  him  in  a  more  feminine  style." 

A  writer  in  one  of  the  public  journals  humorously  gives  the 
following  description  : 

The  hens  are  rather  smaller  in  proportion  to  the  cock,  than  usual 
among  the  Bantams,  but  their  plumage  is  nearly  the  same  ;  they  are 
good  layers, -steady  sitters,  and  most  kind  and  affectionate  mothers. 
The  chicks  are  dark  brown  when  first  hatched,  and  hardy  and  easily 
raised. 


BANTAM    FOWLS.  167 

The  Seabriglit  Bantams  may  be  well  called  the  minikin  of  fowls. 
Their  diminutive  size  is  really  extraordinary.  We  have  occasionally 
seen  them  not  much  larger  than  a  pouter  pigeon.  In  passing  an 
aviary,  not  long  since,  where  they  are  kept,  we  were  quite  amused 
at  the  colloquy  of  a  countryman — a  green  arrival  from  Yankeedom. 
A  proud,  high-spirited  little  fellow,  perched  on  the  top  of  a  coop, 
was  crowing  away  to  every  passer-by,  lustily,  enough,  "  Cock-a-doo- 
dle-du-u-e."  "Why,  you  don't  say  so,"  said  he,  arrested  with  evident 
surprise  at  the  shrill,  consequential  challenge  of  Mr.  Minikin.  "Now, 
du  tell,  will  yer,  my  little  bossy  calf,  whether  you  ra-ally  be  a  rooster 
or  a  quail  ?  "  "  Cock-a-doo-dle-doo,"  and  a  smart,  proud  flap  of  the 
wings,  with  a  comical  wink  of  the  eye,  was  the  gallant  Seabright's 
prompt  reply.  "  Oh,  ho !  then  you  be  a  ra-al  rooster  man,  hey  ? 
Why,  I  kinder  thought,  like  Gineral  Tom  thumb,  you  had  just  cleared 
your  shell,  and  been  stuck  over  with  feathers,  to  make  a  show  here, 
you  little  winky — "  "  Cock-a-doo-dle-doo,  cur-ragh-r-r-r,"  with  a  ruffle 
of  his  hackle  feathers,  showing  fight,  was  Sir  Bantam's  bold  response. 
"What's  that  you  say,  Mr.  Peppercorn? — and  mighty  little  at  that," 
continued  Greeny,  knocking  off  his  hat,  and  stooping  down,  with  his 
hand  on  his  knees,  and  laughing  contemptuously  in  Seabright's  face. 
As  quick  as  thought,  the  Bantam  jumped  and  caught  him  by  the  fore- 
top,  and  commenced  whipping  him  over  the  eyes  with  his  wings, 
greatly  to  the  countryman's  annoyance,  and  the  amusement  of  a 
crowd  of  spectators.  However,  nothing  daunted,  Mr.  Not-quite-so- 
greeny-now,  gently  closed  the  Bantam's  wings,  took  him  in  his  hands, 
and  holding  him  up  admiringly  at  arm's  length,  exclaimed,  "  Wai, 
you  be  some  in  spunk,  anyhow,  old  feller,  mighty  little  as  I  took  you 
for  in  body.  So  I  guess  I'll  buy  you  and  wifey  too;  I've  long  wanted 
sumthin'  to  clear  my  farm  of  hawks  and  eagles,  and  I  guess  now 
you'll  do  it  for  me,  old  war  hoss,  and  no  mistake — I'm  sartain  ye  would 
if  you  was  oney  half  as  stout  as  ye  be  brave."  So  without  the  slight- 
est hesitation,  he  paid  the  high  price  asked  for  the  pair,  chuckling  as 
he  did  it,  half  as  loud  as  the  Bantam  had  crowed,  and  walked  rapidly 
off  with  his  fowls,  and  we  saw  no  more  of  him. 

Nolan,  the  Irish  author,  thus  describes  them : 

The  Seabright  Bantam,  or  Seabriglit  Jungle  Fowl,  takes  precedence 
of  the  whole  puny  tribe  for  beauty  of  plumage,  strut,  demeanor,  and 
pugnacity.  They  are  splendidly  marked,  the  ground  of  the  feathers 
being  either  a  rich,  orange  brown,  or  cream  color,  and  each  feather 
penciled  round  with  black,  or  dark  brown,  with  the  greatest  uni- 
formity. They  are  said  to  have  been  brought  by  the  late  Sir  John 
Seabright,  M.  P.  for  Herts,  from  India,  and  have  frequently  been 
exhibited  in  London ;  for  beauty  of  plumage,  and,  indeed,  if  well 
bred,  and  perfect  in  their  markings,  nothing  can  exceed  them.  The 
regulations  of  the  Society  of  London  Amateurs,  require  that  each 
exhibitor  shall  offer  his  birds  for  sale,  after  the  exhibition,  and  may 
bid  himself,  and  put  on  a  prohibitory  amount  of  purchase  money.  It 
is  on  record  that  Sir  John  bid  up  one  of  his  diminutive  hens  to  £29, 
and  bought  her  in  at  that  price.  And  it  is  recorded  in  the  Illustrated 
London  News,  of  20th  February,  1847,  that  so  late  as  that  date,  two 


168  BANTAM    FOWLS. 

hens  and  a  cock,  of  these  beautiful  emblems  of  pride  and  consequence, 
sold  for  £50  and  Is.,  being  a  shilling  more  than  the  amount  put  on 
them  by  their  owner.  At  the  sale  of  the  late  lamented  baronet,  the 
golden  grounded  birds  averaged  £6  a  brace,  and  the  silver  spangled 
£8  a  brace ;  although  they  are  becoming  comparatively  abundant, 
they  still  keep  up  a  high  price  in  the  London  market,  if  well  marked. 
There  has  been  lately  offered  here,  some  fine  specimens,  from  Sir 
John's  own  stock,  at  a  very  low  figure.  I  do  not  think  anything 
could  exceed  their  perfection  of  feather.  A  lady  near  Shrewsbury 
has  procured  some  fine  specimens  of  both  gold  and  silver  spangled, 
from  this  neighborhood ;  if  she  still  retain  them,  I  think  she  may 
challenge  England.  As  far  as  I  can  judge,  they  are  quite  superior  to 
those  that  took  the  prize  in  London.  Some  ladies  in  the  Queen's 
County,  have  procured  fine  specimens  from  the  late  baronet's  stock; 
I  have  no  doubt  but  under  their  fostering  care,  the  breed  will  be 
kept  up  with  as  much  ardor  as  during  the  lifetime  of  the  great  poultry 
patron,  Sir  John,  and  that  we  will  be  breeding  them,  as  in  the  baro- 
net's lifetime,  "  to  a  single  feather,"  and  retain  their  character  of  the 
"  prettiest  of  domestic  birds."  The  male  birds  should  stand  about 
twelve  inches  high ;  the  standard  weight  being  twenty -two  ounces ; 
the  plumage  as  above  described ;  the  rose-comb  is  preferred ;  the 
wattles  are  moderately  long ;  face  and  throat  bare ;  no  top-knot 
or  ruff  on  the  neck ;  as  free  as  possible  from  hackle  ;  tail,  without  the 
plume,  or  what  is  called  hen-tailed ;  perfectly  clean-legged.  The  hens 
are  abundant  layers,  and  though  it  is  said  there  is  a  difficulty  in 
rearing  their  chickens,  my  patrons  have  been  successful  in  that  way. 
Both  flesh  and  eggs  are  said  to  be  of  fine  flavor ;  although  scarcely 
ever  without  the  birds,  I  have  not  had  the  good  fortune  to  taste  their 
flesh,  but  have  no  hesitation,  from  the  report  of  others,  in  pronouncing 
it  delicate.  The  Bantams  take  their  name  from  a  country  on  the 
N.  "W.  coast  of  Java,  once  populous  and  flourishing,  but  now  miserably 
deserted,  its  commerce  being  transferred  to  Batavia. 

There  are  several  varieties  of  the  Bantam,  in  addition  to  the  above 
— the  black-breasted  red,  black,  Nankin,  white,  and  booted.  The 
black-breasted  red,  if  denuded  of  his  comb  and  gills,  is  a  complete 
miniature  representative  of  our  Game  cock.  I  had  a  beauty  of  this 
sort,  that  used  to  put  dogs  and  fowl  to  the  route,  and  had  the 
temerity  to  quarrel  with  a  Peregrine  Falcon  for  his  food,  but  unfortu- 
nately, suffered  decapitation  for  his  presumption.  This  is  the  nearest 
approach  to  the  Bankiva  Cock,  or  wild  cock  of  Java,  and  so  like,  in 
some  individuals,  as  to  be  difficult  to  distinguish  them.  The  black 
variety  has  all  the  pugnacity  of  its  congeners.  The  whole  of  the 
clean-legged  tribe  are  recommended  as  good  mothers ;  I  have  reared 
all  our  usual  sorts  of  pheasants,  most  successfully,  by  them.  The 
Nankins  are  those  in  use  in  the  great  aviary  of  the  Earl  of  Derby, 
for  hatching  out  the  various  sorts  of  quail,  partridge,  and  pheasants, 
to  which  Mr.  Thompson  has  added  Cantelo's  Incubator,  and  no  one 
in  Britain  can  boast  of  so  much  success  or  experience,  as  that  experi- 
enced ornithologist  The  white  are  precisely  the  same  as  the  others, 
only  varying  in  color.  James  "Walter,  of  Windsor,  gives  a  rather 
unflattering  account  of  their  destroying  their  eggs ;  I  have  kept 
them,  and  never  discovered  it. 


BANTAM    FOWLS.  169 

The  Booted,  or  Feather-legged  Bantam,  should  not  escape  our 
notice.  They  are  of  all  colors ;  those  with  the  greatest  quantity  of 
feathers  on  the  legs,  are  usually  spotted,  red,  black,  and  -white.  I 
have  seen  them  with  feathers  three  inches  long  on  their  legs,  BO  as  to 
impede  their  walking.  They  are  becoming  scarce,  arid  even  promise, 
if  not  rescued,  to  become  extinct ;  the  objection  of  the  fanciers  is, 
that  their  boots,  getting  damp,  are  apt  to  addle  the  eggs  put  under 
them  for  incubation.  They,  however,  have  their  advantages,  as  they 
seldom  do  an  injury  by  scratching,  and  are  frequently  kept  as  orna- 
mental pets  about  a  garden. 


BLACK   SPANISH  AND   BANTAM   COCKS. 

The  above  are  portraits  of  fowls  owned  by  Mr.  Edward 
Aborn,  Providence,  R.  I.  He  has  coupled  the  two  breeds  in 
the  cut,  and  the  description  must  consequently  follow  for  both 
here.  He  writes  me : 

The  above  cuts  represent  my  Black  Spanish  and  Black  Bantam 
cocks. 

The  Black  Spanish  is  one  of  the  very  best  fowls  we  have,  either  for 
laying,  or  for  their  table  qualities.  The  comb  of  the  cock  of  thia 
breed  is  very  large,  deeply  serrated,  and  of  a  bright  scarlet ;  the  wat- 
tles long,  which,  with  the  large  white  ear  lobes,  or  cheek  pieces, 
afford  a  beautiful  contrast  with  their  glossy,  black  plumage.  9 

The  legs  of  the  pure  Black  Spanish  are  always  blue.  The  comb  of 
the  hen,  instead  of  being  erect  like  the  cock's,  falls  over  one  side,  and 
the  white  cheek  pieces  are  not  so  large.  They  are  layers  of  the  first 
order,  laying  quite  large  white  eggs,  two  being  equal  in  weight  to 
three  Shanghae  eggs.  They  are  seldom,  if  ever,  inclined  to  set 

The  Black  Bantam  cock  is  a  proud  little  fellow,  bearing  a  strong 
8 


170  BANTAM    FOWLS. 

resemblance  to  the  Black  Spanish.  His  plumage  is  jet  black  ;  comb, 
single  and  serrated ;  cheeks,  white  ;  legs  smooth  and  blue.  They  are 
first  rate  layers ;  eggs,  small,  but  very  rich  in  their  flavor. 

The  Black  Bantam  has  quite  an  attractive  form.  His  plumage, 
distinguished  for  its  lustre,  his  comb,  of  rosy  hue,  his  eye,  fear- 
less and  impudent,  his  tail,  full  and  flowing,  and  his  self-com- 
placent gait,  mark  him  as  a  beautiful  example  of  a  noble  spirit 
in  a  little  body.  The  hens  are  less  distinguished  for  their  form, 
and  are  inferior  in  capacity.  Yet  they  have  the  credit  of  being 
good  layers,  and  of  fulfilling  their  maternal  ditties  well.  They 
are  not  fond  of  wandering  away  from  home,  nor  of  mingling 
in  the  company  of  other  hens  in  the  neighborhood.  They  are 
easily  kept  in  the  range  of  the  barn-yard,  and  are  useful  in 
destroying  numerous  insects  that  fall  in  their  way.  The  Black 
Bantam  produces  eggs  that  are  smooth,  and  of  a  buff  color, 
and  are  pronounced  to  be  of  better  flavor,  than  those  of  larger 
fowls. 

Their  chicks,  when  hatched,  are  quite  small  and  tender ;  the 
eyes,  feet,  and  legs,  are  black;  but  when  they  are  full  grown, 
and  covered  with  plumes,  they  are  found  not  to  be  more  feeble 
and  tender  than  those  of  many  other  breeds.  The  warm 
season  of  summer  is  considered  the  best  for  raising  the  Ban- 
tam chickens,  as  they  are  not  at  first  fitted  to  endure  the  cool 
and  chilly  air  of  spring.  It  is  considered  good  policy  to  keep 
the  Bantam  cock  from  mingling  with  other  kinds  of  domestic 
fowls,  if  one  is  desirous  of  rearing  a  plenty  of  chickens,  or  ot 
securing  a  great  quantity  of  eggs. 


WHITE     BANTAMS. 

The  white  Bantams  are  somewhat  larger  than  other  varieties, 
some  being  half  the  size  of  common  fowls,  and  others  being 
nearly  as  small  as  Seabright's,  and  other  breeds.  They  are  a 
pure  white,  and  possess  the  general  characteristics  of  the  race 


SIBERIAN     BANTAMS. 

This  is  a  rare  breed,  having  been  brought,  it  is  said,  from 
the  southern  border  of  Siberia,  where  the  severe  cold  weather 
dwindles  all  animal  life  to  its  smallest  capacity.  They  must, 
consequently,  be  very  hardy,  and  able  to  withstand  severe  cold 


BANTAM    FOWLS.  l7l 

weather.  I  have  a  pair  of  these  beautiful  fowls.  The  cock 
weighs  about  one  pound,  and  the  pullet  twelve  ounces.  The 
cock  is  a  brilliant  chestnut  hue,  with  double  comb,  fine  sym- 
metrical figure,  large  tail,  comparatively,  and  he  considers  him- 
self equal  to  any  rooster  I  have  ;  and  frequently  I  see  a  Hoang 
Ho,  Shanghae,  or  Brahma  cock,  large  enough  to  swallow  him 
whole,  running  from  him  for  life,  and  the  little  fel'low  mounting 
them,  holding  on  by  the  neck,  and  paying  them  off  with  com- 
pound interest  for  old  grudges. 

The  pullet  is  of  a  dark  brown,  with  a  speckled  breast,  like  a 
young  robin.  Her  form  is  that  of  a  perfect  hen,  and  her  nature 
and  habits  are  precisely  like  ordinary  fowls.  She  cackles  when 
she  lays,  like  larger  breeds,  and  the  size  of  her  eggs  is  much 
larger,  in  proportion  to  her  size,  than  those  of  any  other  fowl 
known.  She  is  not  so  large  as  a  common  domestic  pigeon,  and 
but  a  very  little  larger  than  a  robin.  Taking  them  all  in  all, 
they  are  the  most  fascinating  little  creatures  I  ever  saw,  and 
every  fowl  fancier  should  possess  them,  in  order  to  show  the 
two  extremes  of  the  gallinaceous  races.  I  shall  probably  offer 
a  few  pairs  for  sale  occasionally,  or  may  furnish  eggs  after  the 
year  1853. 

There  are  some  other  varieties  of  the  Bantam  race — the 
Creepers  are  one — but  they  are  not  of  especial  interest,  and  I 
shall  omit  any  further  notice  of  them. 


172 


POULTRY    HOUSES. 


POULTRY      HOUSES. 

The  principal  considerations  in  a  good  Poultry  House,  are 
warmth,  light,  and  ventilation.  Warm  in  winter,  because  fowls 
will  require  less  food,  will  be  healthier,  and  will  lay  more  eggs. 
Ventilated  in  summer,  and  in  mild  winter  weather,  because 
fresh  air  is  absolutely  essential  to  all  animated  nature,  and  par- 
ticularly to  the  dung-hill  fowl.  Well  lighted,  because  the  fowls 
delight  to  be  in  a  cheerful  place,  and  to  bask  in  sunshine 
admitted  through  the  windows  of  their  tenements  in  cold 
weather.  What  the  best  form  or  style  is  for  a  poultry  house, 


POULTRY    HOUSES.  173 

is  not,  perhaps,  for  any  one  to  define  with  unerring  precision, 
any  more  than  to  define  the  exact  style  for  all  family  dwel- 
lings. In  the  first  place,  the  number  of  fowls  kept  should 
decide  the  proper  size  of  the  building' — not  the  number  kept 
over  winter,  but  the  number  that  may  be  kept  in  the  fall,  after 
the  young  broods  have  matured,  or  grown  to  a  marketable  size. 
The  next  question  is — how  large  a  building  is  required  for 
twenty-live,  fifty,  or  one  hundred  fowls  ?  That  will  depend  on 
the  breed  of  fowls.  Fifty  fowls  of  some  breeds,  will  require  as 
much  space  as  one  hundred  of  some  other  breed,  and  then  the 
question  arises — how  close  will  it  answer  -to  crowd  them  upon 
their  roosts  ?  My  opinion  is,  that  we  should  have  as  many 
feet  of  perches,  as  we  have  fowls  of  any  breed.  Then  comes 
up  the  query — can  we  place  perches,  one  above  the  other,  so 
as  to  accommodate  a  large  number  of  fowls  in  a  small  build- 
ing ?  I  answer,  yes,  it  can  be  done,  but  it  is  not  very  good 
policy.  I  think  that  nothing  is  gained  by  such  a  course,  and 
frequently  great  losses  will  be  sustained,  when  diseases  attack 
the  fowls,  of  a  contagious  character.  A  building  twenty  feet 
long,  may  very  well  have  two  perches  running  the  entire  length 
without  detriment  to  the  health  of  the  fowls,  but  more  than 
two  I  cannot  recommend.  These  perches  should  be  of  the 
same  height,  as  fowls  will  always  strive  to  gain  the  highest, 
when  one  perch  is  above  the  other.  I  have  used  perches  in  the 
shape  of  an  inclined  ladder,  with  five  or  six  bars  to  roost  on, 
the  foot  perch  being  some  six  feet  from  the  wall,  and  the  others 
rising  at  an  angle,  each  back  of  its  lower  neighbor,  so  far  as 
to  admit  the  manure  voided  by  fowls  on  one  perch,  from  drop- 
ping on  those  immediately  below  them  ;  but  the  fowls  will  not, 
in  all  cases,  sit  with  their  heads  the  same  way,  consequently 
this  system  is  objectionable  on  that  account,  and  also  on  account 
of  the  strife  that  will  exist,  to  some  extent,  to  gain  the  upper 
perches. 

In  building  a  poultry  house,  convenience  should  be  one  of 
your  first  objects.  You  should  have  it  so  arranged,  that  your 
roosting  perches  shall  not  be  near  your  nest  boxes,  and  you 
should  have  an  apartment  for  grain,  either  in  the  same  build- 
ing, or  in  another,  near  at  hand.  You  should  have  bins  made, 
rat  proof,  one  for  corn,  one  for  oats,  and  one  for  buckwheat,  or 
some  other  grain  ;  and  if  you  keep  many  fowls,  a  kettle  should 
be  set  to  boil  vegetables,  to  be  mixed  with  meal  for  your  fowls. 
All  of  these  may  be  under  the  same  roof,  if  you  please,  to  good 
advantage,  or  in  an  adjoining  building. 


174  POULTRY    HOUSES. 

Particular  care  should  be  taken  to  afford  the  utmost  ventila- 
tion of  your  poultry  house  in  summer,  by  windows  on  two 
sides,  at  least,  to  be  of  sufficient  size  to  allow  a  perfect  renova- 
vation  of  the  air  within.  Iron  bars  may  be  inserted,  to  protect 
your  fowls  from  depredators  at  night.  I  shall  give  the  opinions 
of  several  gentlemen,  skilled  in  the  science  of  henology,  and  I 
will  commence  with  some  good  suggestions  from  the  "  Journal 
of  Agriculture,"  which  embody  a  description  of  the  foregoing 
poultry  house,  as  here  shown  by  the  engraving : 

POULTRY  HOUSES. — When  a  man  is  bent  on  matrimony,  he  oftentimes 
takes  it  into  serious  consideration,  whether  it  be  the  better  for  him 
to  build  the  cage  first,  or  first  to  procure  the  singing-bird  that  is  to 
tenant  it  But  if  any  of  our  readers  are  attacked  with  the  symptoms 
of  hen-o-mania,  we  can,  at  once,  advise  them  to  build  the  cage  first, 
and  they  can  afterwards  find  a  fowl  to  their  taste. 

As  in  the  management  of  milch  kine,  so  with  fowls,  it  is  as  neces- 
sary to  feed,  and  to  quarter,  and  to  care  for  your  stock  with  judgment, 
as  to  select  with  judgment.  An  ordinary  breed  of  hens,  well  housed, 
and  well  fed,  will  be  of  more  profit  to  their  owner,  than  a  like  number 
of  neglected  and  forlorn  biddies,  who  may  come  of  the  best  laying 
tribe. 

It  becomes  us,  therefore,  to  build  houses  for  our  poultry,  convenient 
for  their  habits,  and  convenient,  also,  for  our  own  ;  for  if  the  tending 
of  any  kind  of  stock  is  attended  with  too  much  trouble,  they  will 
oftentimes  be  neglected.  In  building,  therefore,  let  the  house  be  as 
handy  for  the  hens,  and  as  handy  for  yourself,  as  possible  ;  and  of  the 
two,  we  would  say  in  preference,  make  it  handy  for  yourself.  Let 
there  be  every  convenience  for  feeding,  and  for  cleansing  and  warming 
and  ventilating,  as  the  hour,  or  season  of  each  comes  round. 

Let  the  bins  which  contain  the  grain  for  their  food,  be  in  the 
building,  or  they  may,  perhaps,  occasionally  lose  a  meal,  when  you 
are  too  tired  to  go  after  it.  Let  the  facilities  for  cleansing  their 
Bleeping  apartments  be  always  at  hand ;  or  the  atmosphere  of  their 
dormitory  may  chance  to  be  often  over-charged  with  ammonia.  For 
the  same  reason,  let  your  windows  work  easily. 

Hens  ars  modest  birds,  and  seek  seclusion  and  privacy,  while  the 
symptoms  of  approaching  egg-labor  are  strong  upon  them.  It  is 
thought  by  many,  that  the  production  of  eggs,  is,  like  the  yielding  of 
milk  in  a  cow,  somewhat  under  the  control  of  the  creature;  if  so,  it 
becomes  us  to  add  every  inducement  to  stimulate  the  instincts  of 
nature ;  and  coax  a  fowl  to  prolificity  by  consulting  their  tastes  and 
wThims,  and  making  the  nests  as  secret  as  possible. 

We  present  here  a  representation  and  description  of  a  poultry 
house  erected  by  J.  D.  Bates,  Esq.,  at  his  beautiful  country  seat  at 
Phillips'  Beach,  a  very  well  contrived  and  excellent  edifice. 

The  frame  of  this  poiiltry  house  consists  of  only  the  sill-plates  and 
corner  posts ;  the  outside  being  formed  of  plank,  tongued  and  grooved, 
set  together  with  white  lead.  The  furring  is  laid  on  the  inside  of  the 
plank,  and  plastered.  The  inside  of  the  roof  is  also  plastered,  and 


POULTRY    HOUSES.  175 

the  floor  is  laid  in  cement  Cement  is  much  to  be  preferred  to  brick, 
being  dryer,  more  close,  and  therefore  less  liable  to  be  infected  by 
vermin. 

The  general  dimensions  of  the  building  are  twenty-four  feet  long, 
thirteen  feet  wide,  eight  feet  posts,  and  the  roof  is  something  more 
than  half  pitch. 

The  windows  of  the  roof  slide  upon  rollers.  The  two  centre  win- 
dows, in  the  front,  slide  right  and  left  from  the  center,  on  rollers,  and 
these  two  form  the  entrance,  or  door  into  the  house.  The  two  outside 
sashes  are  stationary.  It  will  be  seen  that  in  each  gable  there  are 
two  small  windows  on  hinges,  swinging  inward,  to  give  additional 
ventilation  when  required. 

The  inside  is  divided,  as  shown  in  the  ground  plan,  with  a  walk, 
or  range,  four  feet  wide,  and  extends  the  whole  length  of  the  building. 

A  little  more  width  would  be  preferable.  The  remaining  part  is 
divided  into  four  compartments  or  coops.  The  front  of  the  coops  is 
formed  of  slats,  extending  from  the  roof  to  within  two  feet  of  the 
floor,  and  these  two  feet  finished  with  slats  also,  laid  in  diamonds. 
The  doors  are  also  made  in  the  same  style,  and  slide  up  with  balance 
weights.  The  coops  are  divided  with  slats  in  the  same  manner.  These 
slats  are  but  one  inch  and  a  half  wide. 

The  laying  nests  consist  of  three  ranges — nine  nests  in  each  range — 
and  commence  two  feet  from  the  floor.  There  are  twenty -seven  nests 
on  the  left  hand  side,  and  twelve  on  the  other  side.  They  are  one 
foot  square  in  the  clear.  Behind  the  nests  is  an  alley,  or  walk, 
extending  the  whole  length,  from  which  the  hens  enter  the  nests. 
The  floors  of  the  nests,  and  the  walks,  are  made  of  slats,  three-fourths 
of  an  inch  apart,  to  allow  air  to  circulate,  and  to  prevent  the  collec- 
tion of  dirt 

One  of  the  great  troubles  in  constructing  laying  nests,  is  to  prevent 
the  accumulation  of  vermin  and  other  filth.  If  common  American 
tobacco,  wrapped  in  coarse  brown  paper,  in  a  compact  form,  is  placed 
in  the  nests,  allowing  two  papers  to  each  nest ;  it  will  be  found  a 
cheap  and  a  sure  way  of  preventing  the  propagation  of  vermin. 

Great  attention  should  be  paid  to  the  cleanliness  of  nests,  and 
fresh  hay  should  be  placed  in  them  every  two  weeks,  and  during  the 
hot  weather,  oftener.  These  nests  open  in  front,  the  door  or  lid,  of 
which  there  is  one  for  every  two  nests,  hung  upon  hinges,  falling 
downwards,  with  a  brass  catch  spring  to  fasten,  when  closed. 

Three  of  the  coops  have  ea«h  four  roosts,  made  of  sassafras  poles, 
and  each  coop  is  capable  of  comfortably  containing  forty  fowls — the 
back  one  four  feet  from  the  floor,  and  the  front  one  two  feet  The 
other  coop,  on  the  left  hand  side,  is  appropriated  to  the  nests,  and 
room  for  the  fowls  to  get  access  to  and  from  them. 

The  small  cut  represents  a  profile  view  of  the  laying  room,  showing 
the  three  ranges  of  nest ;  to  the  first  and  second  of  which  the  hens 
mount  by  small  fixed  ladders,  eight  inches  wide,  with  octagon  slats 
three  inches  apart  From  the  shelf,  which  extends  to  the  top  of  the 
ladder,  the  hens  may  readily  jump  to  the  third  range. 


176 


POULTRY    HOUSES. 


Explanation  of  the  Ground  Plan. — a  represents  the  laying  room 
and  alleys  or  ranges  behind  the  nests ;  b  represents  the  general  range 
or  walk  which  extends  the  whole  length  of  the  building  ;  c  represents 
the  coops  and  roosting  compartments ;  d  represents  the  sliding  doors, 
by  which  there  is  an  entrance  to  the  coops.  There  are  sliding  doors 
to  each  compartment. 

POULTRY  HOUSES. — I  noticed  a  sketch  from  a  correspondent,  relative 
to  building  hen  houses  contiguous  to  horse  stables,  or  having  hens 
roost  near  horses ;  which  plan  he  disapproved  of  on  account  of  his 
horse  obtaining  lice  from  the  hens,  and  the  difficulty  he  experienced 
in  removing  them.  My  experience  convinces  me  that  horses  and 
cattle  will  become  lousy  in  that  way.  In  my  barn,  my  fowls  roosted 
where  I  stabled  my  colts  and  calves,  and  they  soon  became  lousy, 
while  in  another  barn,  where  I  stabled  my  work  horses,  not  a  louse 
could  be  found.  I  searched  the  Rural  for  a  remedy,  and  found  that 
the  correspondent  to  whom  I  have  referred,  after  trying  various  rem- 
edies, washed  his  horse  with  soap  suds,  and  made  an  application  of 
one  gallon  of  rum.  Not  being  much  of  a  friend  to  rum,  or  any  of 
the  family,  whether  used  internally  or  externallv,  I  consulted  the 
hens  for  a  remedy,  and  found  that  nature  had  furnished  one,  and  that 
is  by  wallowing  in  the  sand — in  this  way  they  rid  themselves  of 
these  troublesome  vermin.  I  therefore  took  a  quantity  of  sand,  dried 
it  thoroughly  in  a  stove  oven,  then  sprinkled  it  freely  in  among  the  hair 
two  or  three  times  a  week,  until  the  lice  were  removed.  "What  par- 
ticular effect  it  has  upon  them,  I  cannot  say,  but  they  don't  seem  to 
like  having  dust  thrown  into  their  eyes  in  this  way,  and  they  evacuate. 

By  the  above,  any  farmer  can  see  the  necessity,  of  building  a  house 
on  purpose  for  his  fowls,  and  if  they  are  properly  cared  for,  they  will 
amply  compensate  the  expense  and  trouble  in  eggs,  and  the  guano 
which  may  be  made  from  their  droppings.  While  writing  about  fowls, 


POULTRY    HOUSES.  177 

I  will  state  another  fact  that  has  come  under  my  observation,  viz : 
that  fowls  will  eat  pumpkin  seeds,  and  that  it  will  have  a  singular 
effect  upon  them  ;  they  lose  the  use  of  their  legs,  tumble  over  back- 
wards, and  some  will  soon  die,  others,  with  proper  care,  lire. — [There 
must  be  a  mistake  in  this  assertion,  I  think.— -AUTHOR.]  This  has  been, 
the  case  with  one  of  my  neighbor's  ducks,  the  same  with  the  geese  of 
another,  the  experience  of  "  A  Subscriber,"  to  the  contrary  notwith- 
standing.— Selected. 

THE  HENERY. — Your  correspondent  J.  R.  M.,  who  inquires  for  the 
best  plan  for  a  hen-house,  is  reminded,  that  the  one  given  in  the  Cul- 
tivator for  December  18th,  is  merely  a  house  for  roosting  and  laying, 
and  that  it  may  admit  of  being  fumigated  to  destroy  the  vermin  that 
will  be  sure  to  infest  his  fowls  in  hot  weather,  however  careful  and 
cleanly  he  might  be,  it  must  be  built  so  as  to  be  nearly  air-tight  when 
all  the  apertures  are  closed ;  and  then,  a  small  quantity  of  sulphur 
and  saltpetre,  well  mixed  together,  placed  upon  a  shovel,  or  iron 
plate,  and  ignited  by  a  match,  will  be  found  to  rid  the  house  of  all 
the  vermin  that  it  might  contain,  at  a  blow.  But  after  this  roosting 
and  laying  house,  he  will  find  it  quite  expedient  to  erect  a  shed  or 
house  near  by,  as  a  promenade  for  the  poultry  in  wet  or  stormy 
weather,  for  they  will  not  use  the  roosting-place  for  this  purpose,  if 
any  other  is  to  be  had,  as  they  never  enter  such  house  in  the  day 
time,  except  for  the  purpose  of  laying.  And  here  let  me  perform  an 
act  of  justice,  in  saying,  one  of  the  most  convenient  establishments  for 
poultry  that  I  ever  saw,  was  at  the  farm  of  Mr.  Bement,  near  Albany. 
I  call  it  an  establishment,  for  in  a  comparatively  small  space,  was 
contained  a  yard,  promenade,  roosting  and  laying  house,  shelter,  shade, 
and  dusting  beds,  feeding  and  watering  troughs,  <fcc.,  that  left  nothing 
wanting.  Let  me  try  and  give  somewhat  the  dimensions.  The  yard, 
of  circular  form — say  about  half  an  acre  of  land — was  fenced  about 
with  pickets  six  feet  in  height,  and  planted  around  close  to  the 
fence  inside — with  a  cluster  in  the  middle — with  evergreens.  Here 
the  fowls  resorted  in  hot  weather,  and  made  their  dusting  holes 
amongst  sand,  gravel,  &c.,  to  their  heart's  content.  And  adjoining 
this  yard,  was  a  building  two  stories  in  height,  say  about  fourteen 
feet  square,  facing  the  south,  one-half  the  lower  floor  being  devoted 
to  feeding  and  watering  the  stock,  with  boxes  of  ashes,  sand,  lime, 
oyster-shells,  &c.,  and  the  other  fitted  up  as  a  roosting  and  laying 
apartment,  while  the  whole  of  the  upper  story,  or  second  floor,  was 
their  promenade  in  wet  or  stormy  weather,  with  windows,  either  to 
shut  or  open.  And  I  remember,  the  house  was  siirmounted  with 
a  cupola  and  vane;  the  latter,  an  excellent  effigy  of  a  rooster  in  full 
crow,  the  whole  forming  the  prettiest  "  turnout  "  that  I  ever  witnessed 
— in  short,  just  such  a  one  as  I  intend  to  build  the  coming  spring,  for 
my  family  of  Shanghaes. — Selected. 

HENERY. — One  thing  is,  to  have  a  well  arranged  henery — a  place 

where  the  fowls  can  feel  comfortable,  and  at  home.     And  they  like  a 

large  yard,  where  they  can  enjoy  the  sun,  and  the  air,  and  have  fresh 

earth  to  scratch  in.     And  they  should  have  plenty  of  pure  water 

8* 


178  POULTRY    HOUSES. 

every  day,  to  drink.  And  too  many  confined  in  one  place,  will  not  do 
•well — they  will  become  poor  and  lousy.  In  the  place  where  they  hare 
their  nests,  there  should  be  a  plenty  of  straw  or  hay,  and  this  should 
be  frequently  cleaned  out,  and  a  new  supply  furnished,  and  as  the 
fowls  cannot  do  this  for  themselves,  I  expect  the  bovs  will  do  it  for 
them.  And  twice  a  day  they  should  be  fed,  plentifully,  with  corn,  or 
something  else;  and  fresh  lime  thrown  into  the  yard,  will  do  them 
good ;  and  fresh  meat,  cut  fine,  is  very  acceptable,  when  the  ground 
is  frozen  for  fowls  like  insects  and  worms,  and  when  they  can  get  al» 
them,  they  are  first  rate,  but  when  they  can  get  no  food  of  that  kind, 
they  should  have  fresh  meat,  and  they  will  pay  well  for  it  in  eggs, 
which  you  know,  will  always  bring  money  in  market. — Selected. 

FOWL  HOUSE. — Being  about  to  erect  a  domicile  for  the  accommoda- 
tion of  my  golden  top-knots,  I  have  looked  through  the  American 
Poulterer's  Companion  in  vain  for  a  plan,  that  in  all  particulars 
suited  my  taste  and  ideas  of  what  would  be  most  agreeable  to  them, 
for  I  conceive  taste  and  utility  are  not  incompatible,  even  in  a  hen- 
house. I  have,  therefore,  made  a  plan  to  suit  myself. 

This  poultry  house  will  accommodate  one  hundred  fowls  in  stormy 
weather.  It  is  built  on  the  side  of  a  bank,  fronting  the  south.  The 
posts  of  the  centre  buildi'ng  are  eight  feet ;  those  of  the  wings,  or 
storm-houses,  six  feet  front,  and  four  and  a  half  feet  rear ;  the  depth, 
twelve  feet,  and  the  front  of  centre  and  wings,  twelve  feet  each, 
being  just  the  length  of  the  boards ;  the  whole  is  well  thatched. 
The  roof  of  the  nest  house  extends  over  the  passage  to  the  front,  so 
that  the  droppings  fall  into  the  boxes  placed  outside  of  it  for  that 
purpose.  The  slat  window  in  the  gable  is  the  ventilator.  One,  or 
both  of  the  wings  may  be  omitted,  depending  upon  the  wants  or 
taste  of  the  builder.  Cost,  about  &25,  if  built  of  rough  boards. 

If  not  built  against  a  bank,  I  would  have  a  cellar  under  one  of  the 
wings,  for  the  laying  hens  in  the  winter ;  and  instead  of  contiguous 
boxes,  as  is  the  usual  practice,  I  am  satisfied  single  boxes  distributed 
about  the  house  are  altogether  preferable.  I  prefer  single  nests  to 
cl  usters.  — Selected. 

POULTRY  HOUSE. — In  order  to  the  profitable  keeping  of  fowls,  it  is 
indispensable  that  they  should  be  properly  lodged,  and  that  such 
conveniences  should  be  provided  for  them,  as  will  secure  their  comfort 
and  health.  Every  collection  of  poultry  requires  some  place  to  be 
provided  for  them,  to  secure  these  advantages.  Often  they  are  left 
to  take  care  of  themselves,  and  roaming  at  large  over  the  farm,  or 
about  a  smaller  premises,  they  become  at  last  burdensome  to  them- 
selves, unprofitable  to  the  proprietor,  and  a  nuisance  to  the  neighbor- 
hood. A  certain  degree  of  confinement  is  therefore  necessary  for 
fowls.  Close  confinement,  however,  will,  in  a  degree,  prevent  them 
from  laying,  and  destroy  their  health.  A  yard  or  walk,  connected 
with  a  place  for  shelter  and  roosting,  is  what  is  required. 

Care  should  be  taken  in  fixing  upon  a  situation  for  these  accommo- 
dations. A  south  or  south-easterly  exposure  is  the  most  proper  place 
to  be  chosen  and  a  building  of  brick  or  stone  is  preferable  to  one 
built  of  wood.  The  extent  of  the  place  should  be  proportioned  to  the 


POULTRY   HOUSES.  179 

number  of  fowls  kept ;  and  if  any  error  is  to  be  tolerated,  it  might 
better  be  on  the  side  of  small  buildings.  It  is  said,  on  good  authority, 
that  infectious  diseases  are  not  to  be  feared,  even  in  the  case  of  con- 
fined accommodations;  and  laying,  in  the  winter  season,  is  rather 
promoted  than  otherwise,  when  fowls  are  thus  situated.  A  medium 
eon  re e  should  be  adopted,  as  at  once  the  wisest  and  most  economical. 
If  fowls  are  not  sufficiently  defended  from  the  cold  of  winter,  they 
become  torpid ;  if  exposed  to  intense  heat  in  summer,  they  are 
enfeebled.  To  avoid  the  numerous  diseases  which  are  induced  by 
dampness,  care  should  be  taken  that  the  poultry  house  should  be  in  a 
dry  situation,  and  properly  defended  from  the  effects  of  rain.  A  due 
re  :  rd  to  ventilation  is  indispensable  to  guard  sgainst  an  infected 
atmosphere,  and  suitable  facilities  should  be  afforded  for  the  necessary 
exercise  which  all  kinds  of  poultry  daily  demand.  Arrangements  for 
securing  an  ample  supply  of  water  must  never  be  Overlooked,  and  it  is 
advisable  to  have  receptacles  of  ashes  or  dry  sand  within  the  enclosure, 
in  which  the  fowls  may  enjoy  the  luxury  of  rolling  themselves,  in 
order  to  free  themselves  from  vermin,  and  for  amusement. 

When  poultry  are  kept  on  a  large  scale,  a  yard  is  set  apart  for 
their  use,  enclosed  either  by  a  wall  or  by  a  fence  of  paling,  of  sufficient 
height  to  prevent  any  escape.  This  yard  should  be  well  drained, 
but  if  a  stream  of  water  can  be  made  to  flow  through  it,  it  is  an  impor- 
tant advantage.  A  part  of  the  yard  should  be  floored  or  flagged,  to 
feed  the  fowls  upon  ;  a  part  should  be  covered  with  sand  or  gravel, 
for  them  to  wallow  in  ;  a  part  should  be  laid  down  in  grass,  or  planted 
with  such  plants  as  furnish  them  proper  food;  and  somewhere,  there 
should  be  a  deposit  of  dry  mortar,  or  broken  oyster  shells,  so  prepared 
that  the  fowls  may  pick  and  scratch  amongst  it. 

It  is  reckoned  best  to  have  various  roosting-houses  constructed  for 
the  different  kinds  of  poultry,  and  a  separate  nest  provided  for  each  ; 
as,  without  this  precaution,  the  same  nest  will  frequently  have  three 
or  four  visitors.  The  best  kind  of  nests  are  said  to  be  those  made  of 
wood,  wicker  baskets  being  calculated  to  let  in  the  cold  air.  The 
floors  of  the  roost-houses  should  be  kept  sanded,  and  in  fine  weather 
the  doors  should  be  thrown  open  to  give  access  to  fresh  air. 

In  the  erection  of  poultry  houses,  of  course,  considerations  of  fancy 
or  economy  will  furnish  the  rule  in  fixing  upon  a  plan.  A  sufficiently 
good,  and  in  every  respect  suitable  poultry  house,  may  be  built  very 
readily,  and  at  an  insignificant  cost;  but  others  are  in  existence  which 
exceed  in  expense  many  dwellings  considered  comfortable,  and  even 
elegant,  inhabited  by  mankind.  It  is  necessary,  therefore,  to  describe 
several  sorts  of  poultry  houses,  from  those  on  the  most  magnificent 
scale,  down  to  that  which  will  merely  answer  the  purpose  for  which 
it  is  erected. — Dr.  J.  C.  Bennett, 


180 


POULTRY    HOUSES. 


P.    MELENDY'S    POULTRY    HOUSE. 


POULTRY    HOUSES.  181 

The  opposite  engraving  represents  the  poultry  house  of  P. 
Melendy,  Esq.,  of  Mount  Healthy,  Hamilton  Co.,  Ohio.  He 
has  furnished  me  with  the  following  description,  for  this  work  : 

My  largest  poultry  house,  which  is  here  represented,  is  one  hundred 
and  twenty-four  feet  long,  fourteen  wide,  and  sixteen  high — two 
stories.  Besides  whic*h,  I  have  one  fifty  feet  long,  ten  wide,  and  ten 
high ;  and  another  twenty-four  feet  long,  six  wide,  and  eight  high. 
They  are  constructed  on  what  are  considered  the  most  approved  plans ; 
divided  into  several  apartments  for  the  different  breeds,  and  for  laying, 
hatching,  etc.  Three  acres  of  ground  are  attached  to  the  houses, 
divided  into  separate  parks,  for  the  several  breeds,  with  a  pond  of 
water  for  the  ducks  and  geese. 

You  ask  how  my  stock  have  stood  the  cold  winter.  They  have 
stood  it  well.  The  cold  snap  in  January  touched  their  combs  a  littl< , 
and  I  had  common  fowls  frozen  in  the  same  house.  I  think  if  the 
foreign  kinds  can  endure  such  cold  as  we  had  this  winter,  there  nee  : 
be  no  fears  about  their  hardiness.  My  house  has  answered  the  pur- 
pose thus  far  admirably,  and  I  have  dispensed  with  the  steam,  or  othe  .• 
artificial  heat,  this  winter,  believing  that  it  would  not  be  healthy  for 
the  fowls.  It  would  be  almost  impossible  to  keep  up  an  even  tempe- 
rature, and  the  changes  from  high  to  low,  would  be  apt  to  give  thj 
fowls  a  cold.  My  plan  is  to  keep  them  in  the  house  in  bad  weather, 
let  them  out  \vhen  it  is  dry,  and  feed  them  every  night  and  morning. 
In  this  way,  there  need  be  no  difficulty  in  having  eggs  all  the  year 
roujid. 

In  constructing  a  poultry  house,  let  the  front  be  towards  the  south 
or  south-east,  and  the  yara  in  front  of  the  house,  with  sufficient  slope 
to  secure  dryness.  My  plan  would  be  to  excavate  three  feet,  and 
build  of  brick ;  but  this  would  be  expensive.  If  built  of  wood,  it 
should  be  lathed  and  plastered  inside.  A  house  for,  say  three  hundred 
hens,  should  be  about  fifty  feet  long,  twelve  feet  wide,  and  ten  feet 
high  in  front,  sloping  down  to  seven  feet  at  the  back.  Make  it  two 
stories  high,  the  lower  one  six  feet  in  the  clear,  the  balance  for  the 
roosts.  The  front  wall  should  be  as  much  of  it  glass  as  one  can  afford, 
the  glass  extending  from  within  ten  inches  of  the  ground,  to  as  near 
the  roof.  The  main  floor  should  not  be  boarded,  but  earth. 

The  roosts  for  the  large  breeds  should  be  flat  strips  of  board,  four 
or  six  inches  wide,  and  only  two  feet  from  the  floor ;  for  common, 
breeds,  as  high  as  you  please,  and  only  two  inches  wide,  or  if  you 
please,  round  poles,  with  ladders  for  them  to  ascend.  Place  a  wido 
board  underneath  each  roost,  to  catch  the  droppings,  which  can  thua 
be  removed  with  little  labor  every  day,  or  as  often  as  you  choose.  If 
suffered  to  accumulate,  it  makes  the  house  unpleasant,  and  unhealthy 
for  the  fowls.  The  ammonia  arising  therefrom  is  thought  to  occasion 
the  roup.  This  substance  forms  a  most  excellent  and  powerful  manure, 
being  real  "  home  made  guano."  It  is  also  used  by  tanners  and 
morocco  dressers,  who  willingly  give  fifty  cents  a  bushel  for  it. 

Ventilation  must  be  provided  for  at  the  top  of  the  house,  or  the 
fowls  will  not  be  healthy.  The  advantage  of  plastering  the  inside  of 
the  house  is,  that  it  gives  little  chance  for  vermin  to  harbor. 


182  POULTRY    HOUSES. 

My  plan  for  nests,  is  what  is  called  the  secret  nest.  It  is  well 
known  that  hens  love  to  make  their  nests  in  a  very  secluded  place, 
and  this  form  of  nest  appears  to  gratify  this  propensity.  They  are 
made  thus :  Make  a  platform  of  boards,  two  feet  wide,  and  say  ten 
feet  long,  (or  any  length  you  choose,)  fastened  against  the  back  wall 
of  the  building,  about  three  feet  from  the  ground ;  above  and  along 
the  outer  edge  of  this  platform,  nail  a  board  on  the  edge,  one  foot  wide, 
leaving  an  opening  in  the  middle  and  at  each  end,  eight  or  nine  inches 
wide,  and  divide  the  remaining  space  into  compartments  a  foot  square. 
This  leaves  a  passage  way  between  the  wall  and  nests,  nearly  a  foot 
wide.  Make  a  cover  sloping  from  the  wall,  and  so  as  to  open  with 
hinges.  This  affords  easy  means  of  examining,  and  at  the  same  time 
as  much  secrecy  as  the  hens  seem  to  desire. 

The  yard  for  three  hundred  fowls  should  contain  from  one  half  to 
one  acre,  but  if  you  have  not  the  ground  to  spare,  seventy-five  by  one 
hundred  feet  will  answer.  Have  a  part  of  the  ground  fresh  dug  up 
as  often  as  once  a  week,  when  not  frozen ;  and  give  the  fowls  gravel, 
broken  oyster  shells,  crushed  bones  burnt,  old  lime,  mortar,  <fec.,  and 
under  cover  place  dry  sand  and  ashes  for  them  to  roll  and  scratch  in. 
Give  them  a  variety  of  food,  as  corn,  oats,  wheat,  barley,  buckwheat, 
<fec.,  and  a  little  chopped  meat 

Respectfully  yours,  <fec,,  P.  MELENDY. 

There  are  many  other  considerations  pertaining  to  poultry 
houses  that  may  be  mentioned,  but  the  most  important  points 
are  touched  in  the  preceding  matter,  and  my  limits  will  not 
admit  of  using  more  space  on  this  subject.  I  will,  however, 
call  your  particular  attention  to  the  fact,  that  all  of  our  large 
breeds  of  fowls  require  perches  not  over  eighteen  inches  or  two 
feet  high,  and  they  must  be  flat,  and  about  three  inches  wide. 


WATERING    FOWLS. 


183 


WATER      APPARATUS. 

The  above  cut  shows  a  very  simple  and  good  plan  for  water- 
ing fowls. 

When  water  is  placed  in  an  open  vessel,  the  daily  supply,  it 
is  liable  to  become  impure,  from  many  fowls  having  access  to 
it,  but  on  the  above  plan,  the  impurities  are  constantly  running 
away  in  the  overflow  of  the  bowl.  A  jug  is  used  on  this  plan, 
that  holds  from  one  to  two  gallons,  with  an  aperture  in  the 
cork,  to  allow  a  slow  passage  of  the  water,  till  the  jug  is  emp- 
tied. A  keg  holding  about  a  pail  of  water,  with  a  faucet, 
would  be  better  than  the  jug,  I  think — to  be  open  at  the  top, 
and  provided  with  a  cover.  A  running  stream  of  water,  how- 
ever, is  preferable  to  all  other  ways  of  watering  fowls. 


184 


INCUBATION. 


DR.      WIGHT    S      APPARATUS. 

This  plan  for  watering  fowls  originated,  as  I  understand,  with 
Dr.  Eben  Wight.  I  received  a  brief  description  of  it  from  Dr. 
W.,  which  has  been  mislaid,  but  the  plan  shows  for  itself  what 
it  is,  and  how  constructed.  It  appears  that  a  keg  is  suspended, 
as  shown  in  the  cut,  with  an  opening  at  the  top  to  receive  the 
water,  large  enough  to  receive  the  water  direct  from  the  pail, 
and  which  may  be  closed  by  a  door  hung  on  hinges..  A  tube 
of  some  kind,  either  lead  or  wood,  connects  the  keg  with 
the  trough  below,  and  the  water  at  the  lower  end  of  this 
tube  is  made  to  run  out  very  slowly,  so  a-s  not  to  exhaust 
the  supply  above  short  of  twenty-four  hours,  when  a  new  sup- 
ply is  furnished.  By  this  means,  the  water  is  always  pure  in 
the  trough. 

A  cheap  conductor  of  the  water  from  the  keg  to  the  trough, 
may  be  made  of  -wood,  square,  with  a  small  channel  in  the 
centre.  A  common  water  pail  may  be  made  to  perform  the 
office  of  this  apparatus,  by  inserting  a  faucet  in  the  side,  near 
the  bottom ;  then  place  it  on  a  stool,  with  a  bowl  below  to 
receive  the  water.  The  pail  should  be  placed  in  the  shade  in 
warm  weather,  and»covered. 


INCUBATION. 


Instead  of  going  into  an  analysis  of  all  the  causes  that 
produce  a  desire  in  hens  to  incubate,  or  sit,  I  shall  simply 


INCUBATION.  185 

furnish  a  few  matter-of-fact  considerations  that  a  practical  work 
demands,  and  let  others  dwell  at  length  on  the  more  abstruse, 
and  less  interesting  points  to  the  practical  breeder. 

When  a  hen  has  laid  her  "  litter  "  or  "  clutch  "  of  eggs,  we 
all  know  that  she  will  desire  to  sit.  There  appears  to  be  a 
word  lacking  in  the  English  language  to  signify  the  number 
of  eggs  a  hen  lays  before  desiring  to  sit,  as  neither  "  litter w 
nor  " clutch"  is  strictly  proper,  but  used  from  necessity.  If 
she  is  to  be  permitted  to  sit.  she  should  .be  in  a  place  where 
she  will  not  be  subject  to  intrusions  from  other  hens,  by  laying 
in  her  nest,  as  eggs  are  frequently  broken  in  the  strife  on  such 
occasions.  If,  however,  any  liability  exist  of  such  results  at  all, 
it  is  best  to  mark  the  eggs  with  a  lead  pencil,  on  sitting  the 
hen,  by  running  a  ring  around  each,  and  then,  if  other  eggs 
be  deposited  in  the  nest,  they  can  be  easily  detected. 

In  early  spring,  the  nests  for  sitting  hens  should  be  made  as 
warm  as  possible ;  but  in  summer,  the  reverse.  A  hen  should 
never  be  suffered  to  sit  in  a  place  where  the  rays  of  the  sun 
render  the  atmosphere  insupportable  to  human  beings,  or  nearly 
so,  but  should  be  well  shaded,  and  have  plenty  of  ventilation. 
In  very  warm  weather,  a  hen  will  hatch  more  chicks  if  the 
nest  be  made  in  earth,  than  if  made  of  hay  or  straw.  It  would 
be  proper  to  place  damp  earth  in  their  nest-boxes,  scooped  out 
in  the  form  of  a  bowl,  and  packed  firmly,  over  which  a  light 
covering  of  fine,  short  hay,  should  be  laid. 

The  number  of  eggs  to  place  under  a  hen,  should  always  be 
in  the  ratio  of  the  size  of  both  hen  and  eggs.  A  common, 
small  fowl  can  cover  but  seven  eggs  of  the  Brahma  Pootra 
fowl,  while  a  Brahma  Pootra  hen  will  cover  fifteen  or  more 
eggs  of  the  small  breeds.  It  has  been  the  custom,  since  the 
days  of  yore,  to  place  an  odd  number  of  eggs  under  sitting 
hens,  and  the  practice  is  founded  on  the  fact,  however  singular 
it  may  be,  that  an  even  number  will  not  fill  a  nest  so  propor- 
tionate, in  its  rotund  form,  as  an  odd  number. 

When  many  hens  are  sitting  at  the  same  time,  they  should  be 
placed  at  such  distances  from  each  other,  as  to  enable  each  fowl 
to  know  her  own  nest  on  all  occasions  when  returning  from  her 
food  and-water.  If  care  be  not  taken  to  guard  against  this 
evil,  serious  consequences  to  the  eggs  will  occur,  by  two  hens 
getting  upon  one  nest,  breaking  a  portion  of  the  eg'gs,  perhaps, 
while  the  eggs  of  the  other  nest  are  destroyed  by  exposure. 

I  think  that  I  cannot  serve  the  interests  of  my  readers  better 


186  INCUBATION. 

than  by  making  a  few  judicious  extracts  from  writers  of 
acknowledged  merit.  I  am  not  desirous  of  appearing  to  fill 
my  treatise  with  a  large  portion  of  original  matter,  as  some 
authors  seem  to  have  desired,  while  the  greater  portion  thus 
appearing  as  original,  is  but  a  poor  digest  of  the  writings  of 
others,  the  merit  of  which  is  often  lost  in  the  metamorphosis. 
I  prefer  to  say  what  I  have  to  say,  in  my  own  way,  then  to 
give  you  the  best  authorities,  with  no  concealment  of  sources, 
and  unless  I  greatly  err,  this  is  the  only  way  in  which  a  work 
of  real  merit  can  be  produced  on  this  subject.  I  am  led  to 
these  remarks  in  consequence  of  finding  much  matter  in  the 
works  now  extant  on  poultry,  that  is  assumed  as  the  language 
and  opinions  of  their  authors,  which  is  mostly  a  re-hash  of  the 
writings  of  certain  foreign  authors,  dressed  in  an  American 
garb.  The  reader  will  find  nothing  of  that  nature  in  the  pages  of 
this  work,  yet  I  claim  no  merit  on  the  score  of  the  value  of 
my  own  opinions  and  views,  but  simply  on  the  frankness,  can- 
dor, and  undeceptive  manner  in  which  it  has  been  my  aim  to 
write  and  compile  this  Treatise.  Nolan  says  : 

You  will  recollect  the  eggs,  to  be  productive,  must  be  fresh,  and  not 
exposed  to  bad  effluvia  or  moisture,  and  while  collecting,  previous  to 
hatching,  covered  with  bran.  Some  say  pointed  eggs  produce  cocks, 
and  round  ones,  hens ;  and  others,  that  if  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  air- 
bag,  at  the  blunt  end  of  the  egg,  appear  to  be  a  little  on  one  side,  it 
will  produce  a  hen  ;  if  this  vacancy  be  exactly  in  the  centre,  it  will 
produce  a  cock.  Not  having  faith  in  the  above,  1  quote  it  for  the 
advantage  of  those  who  may  wish  to  test  its  authenticity.  If  fresh 
eggs  are  laid  after  the  hen  begins  to  sit,  they  should  be  forthwith 
removed,  and  if  she  break  any  of  her  clutch,  they  should  be  carefully 
cleaned  away,  and  her  feathers,  if  soiled  by  the  broken  egg,  made 
perfectly  clean.  Old  hens  are,  in  general,  better  sitters  than  pullets, 
and  middle-sized,  plump  hens,  better  than  the  very  large  ones.  The 
clucking  of  the  hen,  when  she  has  an  inclination  to  sit,  cannot  be 
mistaken.  It  is  best  to  have  a  few  valueless  eggs  to  put  under  a  hen, 
for  a  few  days,  to  ascertain  if  she  will  sit  steadily,  before  you  intrust 
a  valuable  clutch  to  her ;  when  you  do,  give  her  the  eggs  intended  to 
be  hatched. 

Most  persons  prefer  an  odd  number,  the  odd  egg  being  placed  in  the 
centre,  and  the  rest  round  it — say  seven,  nine,  eleven,  thirteen — 
according  to  the  size  of  the  hen,  extent  of  her  wings,  and  season  of 
the  year. 

If  any  eggs  get  cracked  during  incubation,  a  small  portion  of  paper, 
pasted  on  the  cracked  part,  has  been  found  to  be  a  perfect  preservative. 
Experience  has  proved,  that  the  closer  you  imitate  nature,  the  more  cer- 
tain you  will  be  to  succeed.  If  a  hen  lay  out,  in  a  private  place,  she 
is  likely  to  produce  a  chick  from  every  egg.  It  is  found  that  eggs  set 


INCUBATION.  187 

on  the  ground,  in  a  soft,  sandy  spot,  with  some  short-cut,  clean  straw, 
in  a  quiet  situation,  free  from  other  poultry,  succeed  best ;  the  evap- 
oration from  the  ground  seems  necessary  to" the  hatching,  for  the  want 
of  which,  Mr.  Cantelo  recommends  their  being  slightly  damped  with 
a  sponge,  on  the  top  only,  about  mid-day,  daily.  After  the  tenth  day, 
the  eggs  should  be  closely  inspected,  and  those  that  have  not  germi- 
nated, removed  ;  if  any  bad  egg  be  discovered  after  this,  it  should 
likewise  be  withdrawn. 

I  am  indebted  to  Richardson  for  the  following  useful  hints  : 
In  selecting  eggs  for  setting,  bear  in  mind  what  I  have  said  as  to 
the  number  of  hens  that  the  cock  should  associate  with,  and  choose 
such  eggs  as  you  have  reason  to  believe  have  been  rendered  produc- 
tive. Those  of  medium  size,  that  is  to  say,  the  average  size  that  the 
hen  lays,  are  most  apt  to  prove  prolific.  Sketchley  tells  us  that  he 
has  always  found  the  round  egg  to  contain  the  female  chick,  and  that 
of  oblong  shape,  the  male.  This,  however,  though  it  may  have  been 
newly  discovered  by  Sketchley,  was  known  to  Columella  and  Stepha- 
nus.  If  you  examine  the  egg  between  your  eye  and  a  candle,  you 
will  be  able  to  discern  the  position  of  the  vacancy  caused  by  the  little 
air-bag  at  the  blunt  end  of  the  shell.  If  this  be  in  the  centre,  say 
these  authors,  the  egg  will  produce  a  cock ;  if  at  one  side,  a  hen. 
This  doctrine,  however,  has  long  been  abandoned  by  physiologists,  and 
-upon  the  best  authority ;  nevertheless,  though  I  have  no  faith  in  those 
who  pretend  to  tell  the  sex  of  the  chickens  from  the  eggs,  you  may 
form  a  very  fair  judgment  if  your  eggs  are  impregnated,  from  their 
specific  gravity.  Put  them  in  a  bowl  of  tepid  water,  and  reject  such 
as  do  not  sink  to  the  bottom.  Choose  also,  such  as  present  a  marked 
disparity  of  size  between  the  two  ends  ;  and  while  collecting,  keep  the 
eggs  dry,  clean,  and  in  a  well  ventilated  part  of  the  house.  Such  as 
are  equal  in  size  at  both  ends,  usually  contain  two  yolks ;  and  these, 
be  it  observed,  instead  of  producing  twin  chickens,  as  might  naturally 
be  expected,  commonly  produce  monstrosities ;  reject  them.  The 
number  of  eggs  to  be  placed  under  a  hen  is  from  nine  to  eleven.  The 
number  is,  however,  of  course,  dependant  on  the  size  of  both  eggs 
and  hen  ;  an  odd  number  is  to  be  preferred,  as  being  better  adapted 
for  covering  in  the  nest.  Be  sure  that  they  are  all  fresh,  and  carefully 
note  down  the  day  on  which  you  place  them  beneath  the  hen.  Never 
turn  the  eggs ;  the  hen  can  do  that  better  than  you.  About  the 
twelfth  day  of  incubation,  you  may  be  enabled  to  reject  such  eggs  as 
are  unfruitful.  For  this  purpose,  hold  the  egg  beween  your  hands  in 
the  sunshine ;  if  the  shadow  which  it  forms,  waver,  keep  the  egg,  as 
the  wavering  of  the  shadow  is  occasioned  by  the  motion  of  the  chick 
within ;  if  it  remain  stationary,  throw  it  away.  If  your  eggs  have 
been  recently  laid,  the  chick  will  be  developed  earlier  than  otherwise ; 
if  they  have  been  very  fresh,  you  will,  about  the  sixteenth  day,  if 
you  apply  your  ear  to  the  egg,  hear  a  gentle  piping  noise  within  ;  if 
the  eggs  have  been  stale,  this  will  not  be  perceptible  until  about  the 
eighteenth  day,  and  at  this  time  the  yolk,  which  had  previously  lain 
outside,  and  around  the  chicken,  will  be  gradually  entering  into  the- 
body  of  the  bird.  This  selves  as  nourishment  to  the  little  prisoner, 


188 


INCUBATION. 


until  his  subsequent  efforts  shall  have  set  him  free.  From  this  period 
let  your  attention  be  assiduous,  but  at  the  same  time,  cautious,  for  the 
hen  has  heard  this  cry  before  you  have,  and  all  her  maternal  anxieties 
and  tenderness,  are  from  that  moment  so  greatly  augmented,  that  any 
unnecessary  interference  will  only  tend  to  irritate  her. 

The  following  illustrations  show  the  different  stages  of  incu- 
bation of  the  egg : 


FIRST     STAGE      OF     INCUBATION. 


MIDDLE     STAGE      OF     INCUBATION 


CHICK     JUST     BEFORE      HATCHING. 


INCUBATION.  189 

Rev.  Mr.  Dickson  lias  given  a  very  correct  statement  of  the 
different  degrees  of  development,  which  I  annex  : 

At  the  end  of  the  second  day  it  assumes  the  form  of  a  horse-shoe, 
but  no  red  blood  as  yet  is  seen. 

At  the  fiftieth  hour,  two  vesicles  of  blood,  the  rudiments  of  the 
heart,  may  be  distinguished,  one  resembling  a  noose  folded  down  on 
itself,  and  pulsating  distinctly. 

At  the  end  of  seventy  hours,  the  wings  may  be  seen ;  and,  in  the 
head,  the  brain  and  the  bill,  in  form  of  bubbles. 

Towards  the  end  of  the  fourth  day,  the  heart  is  more  completely 
formed  ;  and,  on  the  fifth  day,  the  liver  is  observable. 

At  the  end  of  a  hundred  and  thirty  hours,  the  first  voluntary  motion 
may  be  observed ;  in  seven  hours  more,  the  lungs  and  stomach  appear; 
and,  in  four  hours  after  this,  the  intestines,  the  loins,  and  the  upper 
jaw. 

At  the  end  of  the  one  hundred  and  forty-fourth  hour,  two  drops  of 
blood  are  observable  in  the  heart,  which  is  also  further  developed. 

On  the  seventh  day,  the  brain  exhibits  some  consistence. 

At  the  hundred  and  ninetieth  hour,  the  bill  opens,  and  the  muscular 
flesh  appears  on  the  breast ;  in  four  hours  more,  the  breast-bone  is 
seen,  and,  in  six  hours  after  this,  the  ribs  may  be  observed  forming 
from  the  back. 

At  the  end  of  two  hundred  and  thirty-six  hours,  the  bill  assumes  a 
green  color,  and,  if  the  chick  be  taken  out  of  the  egg,  it  will  visibly 
move. 

At  two  hundred  and  sixty-four  hours,  the  eyes  appear;  at  two 
hundred  and  eighty-eight  hours,  the  ribs  are  perfect ;  and  at  three 
hundred  and  thirty-one  hours,  the  spleen  approaches  near  to  the 
stomach,  and  the  lungs  to  the  chest. 

At  the  end  of  three  hundred  and  fifty-five  hours,  the  bill  frequently 
opens  and  shuts. 

At  the  end  of  the  eighteenth  day,  the  first  cry  of  the  chicken  is 
heard  ;  and  it  gradually  acquires  more  strength,  till  it  is  enabled,  as 
we  shall  presently  see,  to  release  itself  from  confinement. 

Some  people,  upon  the  eleventh  or  twelfth  day,  examine  the  eggs 
which  have  been  sitten  upon,  to  pick  out  the  bad  ones.  "With  this 
view,  they  place  the  eggs  on  a  drum,  or  between  the  hands,  in  the 
sunshine,  and  observe  the  shadow.  If  this  wavers,  by  the  motion  of 
the  chick,  the  eggs  are  good ;  if  the  shadow  shows  no  motion,  they 
throw  them  away. 

At  the  expiration  of  six  or  eight  days  after  setting  a  hen, 
the  addled  eggs  may  be  known  by  holding  each  up,  encircled 
by  your  hand,  and  one  end  held  in  close  contact  with  the  eye, 
while  the  other  is  held  up  in  the  range  of  the  sun,  the  addled 
ones  appearing  transparent,  and  the  fertile  eggs  quite  black. 
This  is  a  never  failing  test,  and  one  that  should  always  be 
resorted  to,  rather  than  run  the  risk  of  having  your  hens  waste 
their  time  over  unproductive  eggs.  Two  or  more  hens  should 


190  ARTIFICIAL    INCUBATION. 

be  set  at  the  same  time,  if  possible,  so  that  in  case  of  their  not 
being  more  than  twelve  or  thirteen  productive  eggs  under  two 
hens,  on  making  the  test,  all  may  be  put  under  one  hen, 
and  the  other  broken  up,  as  it  is  termed,  from  sitting.  You 
may  allow  your  hens  to  sit  a  few  days  on  wooden  eggs,  or 
those  that  are  addled,  till  two  or  more  desire  to  sit,  when  all 
may  be  provided  with  eggs  at  the  same  time. 

It  is  a  practice  with  some  breeders  to  remove  the  chicks 
from  hens  when  hatched,  and  to  give  them  a  new  sitting  of 
eggs.  This  is  done  when  they  are  desirous  of  raising  some 
valuable  breed  of  chicks  to  as  great  an  extent  as  possible,  and 
to  get  them  out  early.  It  is  said  that  a  hen  will  bear  this 
double  duty  in  the  spring,  without  injury,  but  I  hope  the  prac- 
tice will  be  quite  limited,  and  never  adopted  in  the  summer, 
when  hens  are  debilitated  and  feverish. 

The  next  question  of  primary  importance  in  connection  with 
incubation,  is  the  method  best  adapted  to  "  break  up  "  a  hen 
from  sitting,  when  we  do  not  desire  to  have  her  sit.  If  some 
inventive  Yankee  will  make  a  discovery  that  shall  do  away 
with  the  trouble  we  are  now  subject  to  in  such  cases,  he  will 
be  a  public  benefactor.  There  are  many  suggestions  extant  on 
this  subject,  but  nothing  is  effectual,  and  of  general  application, 
but  to  confine  the  hens  away  from  their  nests  for  a  few  days. 
I  have  found  that  three  days  confinement  is  sufficient ;  and 
where  many  fowls  are  kept,  there  should  be  three  separate 
yards,  each  provided  with  shelter,  &c.,  and  all  hens  desiring  to 
sit  on  a  certain  day,  should  be  confined  in  one  yard ;  those 
desiring  to  set  the  next  day,  in  the  next  yard,  and  so  on. 
When  the  third  yard  receives  its  tenants,  the  first  one  may  be 
vacated. 


ARTIFICIAL      INCUBATION. 

In  arranging  the  matter  for  this  work,  I  have  deemed  it 
expedient  to  place  all  matter  immediately  connected  with  the 
fowl-house  or  yard,  in  a  continuous  position,  as  much  as  possible, 
without  any  regard  to  the  arrangement  of  similar  matter  by 
other  authors  on  this  subject ;  and  as  Artificial  Incubation  is 
one  of  the  branches  of  my  subject,  requiring  an  illustration  in 
such  connection,  I  subjoin  the  following  interesting  communi- 
cation from  Joseph  S.  Keen,  Esq. : 


ARTIFICIAL    INCUBATION.  191 

WEST  PHILADELPHIA,  Pa.,  March  8d,  1853. 

T.  B.  Miner,  Esq. — Dear  Sir:  In  November,  1851,  not  enjoying 
good  health,  I  was  induced  to  direct  my  mind  to  the  raising  of  poul- 
try, as  an  amusing  employment,  attended  with  a  moderate  degree  of 
exercise,  which  would  in  all  probability  prolong  my  time  with  my 
family.  I  purchased  three  pairs  of  young  Cochin  China  fowls,  Vic- 
toria stock — three  cocks  and  three  pullets.  I  soon  found  (with  proper 
attention,)  that  their  precocity  and  prolific  character,  combined  with 
hardiness,  would  require  more  extensive  accommodations,  one  of  the 
pullets  being  the  mother  of  eighty  chicks,  before  she  was  a  year  old. 
Of  course,  she  did  not  hatch  them  all,  though  she  laid  forty-four  eggs 
in  daily  succession. 

I  became  convinced  that  there  had  not  been  sufficient  attention 
given  by  the  farmers  to  that  branch  of  their  business,  or  our  country 
would  have  been  much  better  supplied  with  poultry. 

MV  success  has  induced  several  gentlemen  to  solicit  me  to  give  you 
a  description,  in  detail,  of  my  chicken  establishment;  also  the  result 
of  my  different  experiments  in  hatching  and  rearing  chickens  by 
artificial  means. 

I  will  commence  with  my  chicken  houses.  The  west  building  is 
eleven  feet  square,  sixteen  feet  high  on  the  south  side,  and  twelve  feet 
on  the  north,  with  a  cellar  four  feet  deep ;  the  whole  divided  into 
three  stories  ;  the  basement,  eight  feet  high ;  the  next  story,  seven  feet 
high,  with  a  slanting  ceiling,  parallel  to,  and  four  feet  below  the  roof; 
a  passage  four  feet  wide,  partitioned  off  on  the  north  side,  with  steps 
for  the  fowls  to  pass  to  the  roosts,  and  also  to  the  nests,  which  are 
situated  (eighteen  in  number,)  near  the  middle  of  the  building — the 
best  location  to  protect  them  from  excessive  heat  or  cold — the  hens 
entering  through  holes  in  this  partition,  to  the  nests,  the  eggs  being 
taken  out  from  a  passage  on  the  other  side,  where  there  are  small 
panes  of  glass  set  in  each  shutter  that  opens  into  the  nests.  This 
building  is  lighted  and  aired  with  windows  in  each  story,  on  the 
south  side ;  one  window  on  the  west,  lighting  the  passage  to  the 
roosts,  and  one  in  the  east  end,  near  the  ceiling,  with  a  trap-door  in 
the  roof,  for  ventilation ;  which  door  is  only  partly  lifted  by  means 
of  a  cord  and  pully  attached  to  a  covering  over  it.  All  the  windows 
have  glass,  and  open  to  give  air,  which  is  essential  to  the  health  of 
the  fowls.  Adjoining  this,  on  the  east,  is  a  room  for  feed,  five  feet  by 
eleven.  Next  to  this  is  a  building  twenty-four  feet  by  eleven,  glass  on. 
the  south,  front,  and  east  end,  with  glass  roof,  pitching  to  the  south, 
with  a  passage  way,  two  feet  wide  by  three  feet  high,  for  the  older 
fowls  to  go  to  the  roosts  and  nests  from  an  open  shed  east  of  this 
building.  Next  in  order  is  a  chicken  house  ten  feet  square,  with 
roosts  and  nests,  and  a  passage  to  take  the  eggs ;  one  window  in  the 
south,  with  glass,  one  in  the  west,  and  one  in  the  east  side,  for  venti- 
lation, with  an  open  shed  attached  on  the  east  side.  Adjoining  this 
on  the  east,  is  another  chicken  house,  ten  feet  square,  one  window  in 
the  south,  and  one  in  the  east,  with  glass,  and  one  in  the  west,  for 
ventilation.  This  house  is  divided  into  two  apartments,  one  for  the 
young  cocks,  the  other  for  the  young  pullets,  with  an  open  shed 


192  ARTIFICIAL   INCUBATION. 

attached  on  the  east.  All  the  buildings  have  a  sonth  front,  the  whole 
extending  east  and  west  about  one  hundred  and  twenty  feet,  with  a 
separate  yard  for  each  apartment,  and  a  sliding  door  to  open  into  a 
larger  yard,  shaded  with  trees.  North  of  this  range  of  buildings,  is  a 
duck  yard  and  house ;  the  lower  part  for  ducks,  the  upper  part  for 
common  chickens,  with  passage  way  to  the  nests,  to  take  the  eggs, 
with  an  open  shed  attached,  and  an  artificial  pond,  supplied  with 
water,  by  means  of  a  pipe  inserted  into  a  wooden  pump,  six  inches 
below  the  nozzle,  that  when  the  pump  is  used,  a  portion  of  the  water 
runs  into  the  pond,  as  well  as  distributes  fresh  water  along  the  line, 
into  the  several  chicken  yards.  In  the  duck  yard  are  two  kettles, 
holding  about  fifty  gallons,  to  boil  feed  in  for  the  ducks  and  chickens. 
All  these  buildings  I  have  found  indispensable  in  breeding  the  chickens 
distinctly,  and  without  mingling. 

My  first  experiment  in  hatching  by  artificial  means,  was  with  an 
Eccaleobeon,  about  four  feet  long,  two  feet  high,  and  two  feet  deep, 
front  to  back;  legs,  twenty  inches  high,  with  four  drawers,  four 
inches  deep,  two  feet  square,  placed  near  ta  one  end ;  the  drawers 
encompassed  with  a  sheet  of  water  three  inches  thick,  connecting 
with  a  larger  body,  two  feet  square  each  way,  through  which  a  small 
iron  stove  passes,  to  heat  the  water.  In  the  top  drawer  are  two 
openings,  one  front,  and  one  back,  with  valves,  connected  by  a  small 
iron  shaft ;  in  the  front  valve  there  is  inserted  a  glass  tube,  with  a 
bulb  at  each  end,  nearly  filled  with  mercury,  so  regulated,  that  when 
too  warm  or  too  cool,  the  mercury  will  expand  or  contract,  throwing 
the  weight  from  one  end  of  the  valve  to  the  other,  opening  or  closing 
the  valve,  as  required.  This  self-regulator  of  the  heat  in  the  drawers, 
removes  the  necessity  of  so  close  attention  to  the  heat.  I  hatched 
eggs  that  had  been  partly  under  a  hen,  and  produced  the  chickens 
from  the  first  warming  of  the  eggs,  up  to  the  eighteenth  day,  when 
the  tin  case  sprang  a  leak,  and  all  the  water  ran  out ;  but  I  had  suf- 
ficient evidence  that  the  eggs  would  have  hatched,  had  the  case  been 
made  of  copper,  perfectly  tight.  I  then  had  recourse  to  bricks,  piled 
around  the  stove,  in  place  of  the  water.  I  found  the  heated  air  would 
pass  around  the  drawers  as  well  as  the  water,  and  keep  up  a  uniform 
heat  that  would  have  hatched  eggs  equally  well,  but  attended  with 
more  personal  care,  which  led  me  to  experiment  with  horse-dung  as  a 
means  of  generating  heat,  which  has  resulted  in  perfect  success,  in 
producing  fine  healthy  chickens  in  twenty-one  days  from  the  com- 
mencement of  their  heating.  This  mode  will  be  more  useful  to  the 
farmers,  as  they  have  the  material  at  hand,  and  the  only  cost  attend- 
ing it  would  be  a  little  labor,  to  accomplish  the  hatching  of  eggs  to 
any  desired  extent. 

This  Mammel,  (to  use  the  Egyptian  name,)  I  will  now  give  a  minute 
description  of,  that  every  farmer  may  build  one  for  himself,  and  be 
able  to  perfect  the  hatching  of  eggs  and  rearing  of  chickens,  without 
the  aid  of  the  hen. 

^  It  is  a  building  thirteen  feet  by  sixteen,  with  a  tight,  grooved  par- 
tition dividing  it  into  two  apartments,  the  front  one  seven  feet,  the 
other  nine  feet.  In  this  partition  are  two  openings  to  receive  the 
front  ends  of  the  ovens.  These  ovens  are  six  and  a  half  feet  long, 


ARTIFICIAL    INCUBATION.  193 

two  feet  two  inches  wide,  nineteen  inches  high  on  one  side,  and  eighteen 
inches  on  the  other,  in  the  clear;  back  end  closed,  and  made  entire  of 
inch  boards ;  lined  with  tin,  soldered  water-tight,  with  shutters  in  two 
equal  parts,  hung  to  the  bottom  and  in  the  middle  with  hinges,  and 
buttons  to  close  the  front  end.  In  the  upper  part  of  the  shutter  there 
are  two  sliding  valves,  each  four  inches  by  six,  to  give  air,  and  regu- 
late the  heat.  The  outside  of  the  ovens,  and  the  partitions,  should  be 
well  coated  over  with  pitch,  to  exclude  moisture,  and  preserve  the 
wood  from  dec-ay.  The  ovens  should  be  placed  eighteen  inches  above 
the  ground,  supported  with  posts  at  the  back  end,  and  four  feet  apart, 
with  an  open  board  partition,  the  boards  running  up  and  down,  ten 
inches  apart,  to  divide  the  dung  between  the  ovens,  and  yet  not 
entirely  separate,  so  that  in  renewjn-g  the  dug  of  one  oven,  the  other 
may  not  be  chilled.  There  should  be  a  window  in  the  back,  to  give 
air,  and  to  receive  the  dung  through.  The  dung  should  be  such  as  is 
made  in  a  well  littered  horse  stable,  and  used,  straw  and  dung  mixed, 
and  well  watered  while  being  thrown  into  a  pile,  where  it  is  to 
remain  twenty-four  hours  to  soak,  and  admit  the  redundant  water  to 
pass  off.  It  should  be  placed  loosely  around  the  ovens,  which  will 
not  require  renewing  for  two  weeks;  then  only  renew  half  the  length 
of  the  oven  at  a  time,  judging  from  the  heat  when  more  of  it  is  to  be 
renewed,  which  will  be  required  about  every  week.  Tan  will  make 
a  better  bed  under  the  oven  than  dung;  the  heat  will  last  longer. 
The  egg  box,  four  feet  long,  two  feet  wide,  three  inches  deep,  lined 
with  baize,  ten  inches  of  one  end  covered  with  wire,  to  keep  in  the 
chickens  that  are  just  hatched  ;  the  other  part  of  the  box  should  have 
a  light  frame,  with  twine  placed  between  the  eggs,  and  attached  to 
the  frame,  to  turn  all  the  eggs  at  one  time.  The  egg  box  rests  on  a 
carriage  which  runs  on  rails  laid  on  the  bottom  of  the  oven,  with  a 
moveable  attachment,  to  run  the  carriage  entirely  out  of  the  oven. 
The  egg  box  turns  on  a  centre,  to  reverse  the  ends  in  the  oven.  The 
carriage  is  made  in  two  parts ;  the  lower  part  has  sash  pullies  let 
into  it,  to  roll  on  the  rails  ;  the  upper  part  is  connected  to  the  lower 
with  four  small  bars  of  iron,  about  eight  inches  long,  with  holes  for  a 
wood  screw  in  each  end,  and  the  screws  put  into  the  top  and  bottom, 
when  they  lie  together,  (which  moves  like  a  parallel  ruler,)  and  con- 
fined to  different  heights  by  a  hook  about  ten  inches  long,  fast  to  the 
upper  part,  and  hooking  into  staples  driven  into  a  piece  of  wood 
running  along,  and  fastened  to  the  lower  part.  This  arrangement  is 
to  sustain  the  egg  box  at  different  heights,  to  suit  the  required  degree 
of  heat,  which  I  have  found  to  be  as  near  as  it  can  be  kept,  to  one 
hundred  and  four  degrees,  from  the  first  to  the  last  stage  of  successful 
hatching.  My  feed  room  can  be  made  perfectly  dark.  Through  one 
of  the  doors  is  a  hole  one  and  one-fourth  inch  in  diameter,  over  which 
is  a  piece  of  cloth  tacked,  (an  inch  hole  in  it,)  that  will  exclude  all  the 
light,  except  what  passes  through  it,  where  can  be  seen  the  first 
progress  of  the  chick,  and  in  four  days,  if  there  is  no  appearance  of  a 
chicken,  boil  it  for  the  young  brood. 

Next  in  order  is  the  rearing  of  chickens  without  the  aid  of  a  mother. 
In  the  basement  of  the  first  named  building,  on  a  level  with  the  top 
of  the  Eccaleobion,  is  a  platform  four  feet  by  seven,  with  a  elide  to 
9 


194  ARTIFICIAL    INCUBATION. 

open  in  fine  weather,  into  a  small  yard,  also  one  to  open  into  a 
box  with  wire  front,  (over  the  Eecaleobion,)  which  is  moderately 
heated  from  a  small  stove;  in  this  box  is  an  artificial  mother, 
made  of  rabbit  skin?,  (I  have  also  one  made  of  the  skin  of  a  fowl,) 
hung  about  two  inches  from  the  bottom,  where  the  chicks  are 
first  placed ;  in  three  or  four  days  they  are  let  into  an  adjoining 
apartment,  where  there  is  a  sheepskin  mother ;  over  this  is  another, 
with  a  sheepskin  raised  higher  at  one  end  than  the  other,  for  chickens 
further  advanced  to  run  under,  with  a  small  yard  attached.  In  the 
glass  building  is  a  platform  sixteen  feet  by  four,  about  four  feet  above 
the  ground  floor,  for  chickens  still  further  advanced,  with  a  yard  to 
it  They  are  next  shut  out  from  this  apartment,  and  run  with  the 
full  grown  fowls. 

All  these  apartments  will  accommodate  about  five  hundred  chickens, 
of  the  different  ages.  This  mode  of  hatching  and  rearing  them  is 
attended  with  less  than  half  the  loss  that  usually  takes  place  when 
hatched  and  reared  by  the  hen.  "With  regard  to  feed  for  the  first 
two  or  three  meals,  I  give  grated  stale  wheat  bread,  laid  on  a  sanded 
floor ;  next,  I  give  bread  boiled  in  milk,  and  while  hot,  mix  coarse 
ground  Indian  meal  with  it,  making  it  nearly  dry.  For  the  older 
fowls,  I  give  wheat  screenings  and  whole  corn,  with  once  a  week 
boiled  meat. 

It  will  here  be  seen  that  I  have  made  the  management  of  eggs  as 
plain  and  simple  as  Capt.  Cooke  did,  "  when  he  stood  one  on  its 
point" 

Yours,  most  respectfully,  JOSEPH  S.  KEEN. 

ECCALEOBION. — This  is  an  apparatus  put  in  operation  some 
years  ago,  for  artificial  hatching.  The  name  is  of  Greek  origin, 
and  signifies  to  draw  out  life.  The  chicks  were  hatched^  by 
means  of  heated  air.  The  form  of  the  apparatus  was  an  oblong 
box  three  feet  wide,  nine  feet  long,  and  three  feet  high.  It  was 
successful,  but  not  adapted  to  cheap  and  general  practical  incu- 
bation. 

POLOTOKIAN. — Here  is  another  " jaw-cracking  "  machine  that 
Mr.  E.  Bayer,  of  Brooklyn,  N.  Y.,  put  in  operation  in  1843,  and 
succeeded  very  well  in  the  process  of  hatching,  not  loosing  over 
twenty-five  per  cent,  of  the  eggs.  The  temperature  best 
adapted  to  hatching,  he  found  kTbefrom  101°  to  102°  F.  He 
applied  heated  air. 

AMERICAN  EGG-HATCHING  MACHINE. — Some  six  years  ago, 
a  machine  was  exhibited  in  the  city  of  New  York,  under  the 
above  name.  It  was  constructed  of  tin,  with  an  incubating 
chamber  surrounded  by  water  of  a  suitable  temperature,  kept 
warm  by  a  spirit  lamp,  at  a  cost,  it  is  said,  of  less  than  ten  cents 
a  day  !  It  was  about  two  and  a  half  feet  in  length  and  breadth, 


NEST    BOXES.  195 

and  three  feet  high,  and  was  said  to  be  capable  of  hatching 
five  hundred  chickens  at  a  time,  with  a  loss  of  only  two  per 
cent,  if  the  eggs  were  fresh  and  impregnated.  I  saw  it  in 
operation  there,  with  a  large  number  of  chickens  just  hatched 
out.  It  was  worth  seeing,  as  an  object  of  curiosity,  but  it  was 
not  adapted  to  general  use,  as  the  chicks  hatched  in  it  were  not 
as  hardy  as  those  hatched  under  hens.  Nor  will  any  apparatus 
be  produced,  in  my  opinion,  that  shall  not  be  objectionable,  on 
account  of  the  delicacy  of  the  chicks  produced.  It  will  do 
very  well  to  read  the  descriptions  of  ingenious  inventions  for 
doing  away  with  the  services  of  hens,  as  incubators,  but  it  is 
not  for  man  to  improve  on  the  works  of  nature,  as  applied  to 
egg-hatching. 


NEST      BOXES. 

The  best  nest  boxes  are  those  that  hide  the  hens  from  sight 
when  we  are  passing  near  them.  This  rule  applies  to  our  com- 
mon breeds  much  more  than  to  the  large  Asiatic  fowls,  the 
latter  being  more  domestic  in  their  habits,  and  not  easily 
frightened  from  their  nests. 

It  has  been  recommended  by  experienced  breeders,  to  con- 
struct the  boxes,  so  as  to  admit  the  fowls  on  the  back  sides,  and 
have  lids  hung  on  hinges  on  the  top  of  the  tier,  to  be  raised 
up  to  examine  the  nests.  This  plan  has  its  advantages  and 
disadvantages.  It  affords  a  quiet  retreat  for  the  fowls,  but  does 
not  allow  the  breeder  to  see  at  a  glance  whether  all  is  right 
therein,  as  he  should  be  able  to  see,  when  his  hens  are  incu- 
bating. It  sometimes  happens  that  two  fowls  crowd  into  one 
nest  by  mistake,  and  if  it  be  the  nest  of  a  sitting  hen,  serious 
results  often  happen  in  the  destruction  of  eggs,  as  I  have  before 
stated.  Again,  it  is  a  question  whether  permanent  or  moveable 
boxes  are  best.  I  use  both  kinds,  but  give  the  preference  to  the 
latter — the  moveable  ones.  For  the  large  breeds,  I  construct 
them  fifteen  inches  in  diameter,  each  way,  and  from  eight  to 
twelve  inches  high,  with  the  fronts  sawed  out  obliquely  from 
each  upper  corner,  towards  the  centre  down  within  six  inches 
of  the  bottom ;  thus  affording  ingress  without  obliging  the  hens 
to  hop  down,  which  our  large  breeds  cannot  do  without  danger 
of  breaking  the  eggs.  Furthermore,  some  of  them  cannot  get 
into  a  nest  one  foot  high,  without  considerable  effort  at  flying 
up,  when  a  common,  native  hen  would  hop  up  with  the  great-] 


19G  DURATION    OF    IMPREGNATION. 

For  our  common,  native  hens,  I  make  the  boxes  about  one 
foot  square,  both  in  diameter  and  height. 

I  place  my  boxes  six  to  eight  feet  apart,  but  one  must  have 
a  commodious  fowl  house  to  allow  so  much  space,  if  he  keeps 
a  large  number  of  fowls.  I  have  several  yards  and  houses,  one 
for  each  breed. 


NUMBER      OF     HENS     TO     A     COCK. 

The  general  rule  is  to  allow  about  ten  hens  to  one  cock,  yet 
more  hens  may  sometimes  be  allowed  with  safety,  when  we  are 
not  particularly  anxious  that  every  egg  should  be  impregnated. 
In  breeding  very  valuable  fowls,  fewer  pullets  to  each  male, 
is  the  safer  way.  I  have  at  present  four  Brahma  Pootra  (I 
generally  call  them  Brahma  fowls,  for  convenience,  and  I  find 
that  the  public  prefer  this  shorter  name,)  roosters  to  twenty 
pullets,  but  I  find  them  rather  too  amorous,  and  I  shall  have  to 
take  away  one  or  two  of  them. 

DURATION      OF      IMPREGNATION. 

This  is  a  very  important  question  to  the  breeder,  and  as  it  is 
not  always  convenient  to  keep  each  breed  separate  in  the  fall 
and  winter,  when  the  hens  are  not  laying,  the  question  is,  how 
long  can  we  allow  our  fowls  to  run  together  promiscuously  in 
the  non-breeding  season,  with  safety  ? 

It  is  the  opinion  of  many  experienced  breeders,  that  an 
impregnation  lasts  no  longer  than  during  the  period  of  laying 
one  single  litter  of  eggs,  and  that  if  a  hen  be  removed  at  the 
expiration  of  laying  her  litter,  and  placed  with  a  cock  of  her 
own  pure  blood,  that  the  chicks  produced  thereafter  will  have 
no  impure  trace,  though  the  hen  previously  ran  with  an  impure 
cock.  I  do  not  admit  that  this  is  true,  but  I  am  convinced 
that  some  trace  of  impurity  will  extend  to  the  second  and  third 
litter  after  that  laid  from  connection  with  an  impure  blooded 
cock. 

Last  season  I  received  a  trio  of  Guelderland  fowls  from  G. 
H.  Bacheler,  Esq.,  of  Lynn,  Mass.,  one  cock  and  two  pullets. 
He  informed  me  that  the  pullets  had  run  with  cocks  of  other 
breeds,  and  added,  that  a  few  of  their  first  eggs  would  probably 
be  a  little  impure ;  but  I  found  that  a  trace  of  impurity  ran  in 
their  eggs  through  two  litters  at  least. 


TO    PRESERVE    EGGS.  197 

The  best  way  is,  undoubtedly,  to  be  able  to  keep  the  different 
breeds  distinct  and  separate  the  entire  year ;  but  when  this  is 
not  done,  they  must  be  separated  before  any  manifestations  of 
intimacy  between  cocks  and  pullets  takes  place. 

LONGEVITY      OF      FOWLS. 

A  dunghill  fowl  will  live,  with  good  care,  in  some  cases,  from 
ten  to  fifteen  years ;  but  we  should  not  allow  them  to  live 
beyond  the  third  or  fourth  year,  unless  it  be  some  valuable 
breed,  that  may  still  be  of  service  to  us.  A  hen  is  in  her  prime 
the  first  and  second  years.  They  are  better  layers  the  first  year 
after  maturity,  and  better  sitters  thereafter,  as  a  general  rule. 
In  keeping  our  common  varieties,  it  is  best  to  keep  none  over 
three  years  from  the  egg. 

COCKS      NOT      NECESSARY      TO      PRODUCE      EGGS. 

It  is  the  opinion  of  many  people  that  hens  will  not  lay  as 
many  eggs  in  a  season  when  no  cock  is  allowed  to  run  with 
them,  but  this  is  not  so.  I  kept  two  hundred  hens  on  Long 
Island,  some  years  ago,  during  o-ne  year,  without  any  cocks,  as 
an  experiment,  and  I  found  no  difference  in  the  number  of 
eggs  produced  at  all,  nor  in  the  desire  of  the  hens  to  incubate. 
It  is  said  that  eggs  produced  without  impregnation,  will  keep 
good  much  longer  than  those  that  are  impregnated.  This  sub- 
ject is  worthy  the  consideration  of  those  who  furnish  eggs  in 
large  quantities. 

TO      PRESERVE      EGGS. 

Perhaps  no  subject  is  more  veiled  in  uncertainty,  and  in  an 
absence  of  any  method  or  recipe  that  can  be  relied  on,  than 
the  preservation  of  eggs  the  entire  year,  so  that  they  shall  be 
equally  good  as  those  fresh  laid. 

Many  recipes  are  given  from  year  to  year,  that  claim  to  be 
effectual  in  producing  such  a  result,  but  it  is  not  in  the  power 
of  man  to  preserve  an  egg,  even  six  months,  and  have  the  same 
fine,  fresh  flavor,  that  a  new  laid  egg  possesses.  This  I  consider 
a  settled  point,  and  the  question  then  arises,  what  is  the  best 
way  to  preserve  eggs  the  longest  possible  time,  and  have  them 
in  a  good  condition  for  use  ? 


198  TO    PRESERVE    EGGS. 

The  general  practice  in  preserving  eggs,  has  been  to  useliino 
ami  salt  as  the  principal  ingredients,  and  I  believe  that  nothing 
else  exists  that  is  better  than  these  two  articles.  An  egg  can 
be  kept  fresh  but  a  short  time,  if  exposed  to  the  air,  even  in 
the  least  degree  ;  hence,  no  method  of  preservation  is  of  value, 
that  does  riot  wholly  exclude  the  atmosphere,  and  prevent  the 
natural  evaporation  of  the  contents  of  the  egg.  l)r.  Bennett 
says  in  the  "  Poultry  Book : " 

Eggs,  after  being  laid,  lose  daily  by  transpiration,  a  portion  of  the 
matter  which  they  contain,  notwithstanding  the  compact  texture  of 
their  shell,  and  of  the  close  tissue  of  the  flexible  membranes  lining  the 
shell,  and  enveloping  the  white.  When  an  egg  is  fresh,  it  is  prover- 
bially full,  without  any  vacancy ;  and  this  is  matter  of  common 
observation,  whether  it  be  broken  raw,  or  when  it  is  either  soft  or 
hard  boiled.  But  in  all  stale  eggs,  on  the  contrary,  there  is  uniformly 
more  or  less  vacancy,  in  proportion  to  the  loss  they  have  sustained  by 
transpiration;  and  hence,  in  order  to  judge  of  the  freshness  of  au 
egg,  it  is  usual  to  hold  it  up  to  the  Irght,  when  the  translucency  of 
the  shell  makes  it  appear  whether  or  not  there  be  any  vacancy  in' the 
upper  portion,  as  well  as  whether  the  yolk  and  white  are  mingled  and 
muddy,  by  the  rotting  and  biirsting  of  their  enveloping  membranes. 

The  transpiration  of  eggs,  besides,  is  proportional  to  the  tempera- 
ture in  which  they  may  be  placed — cold  retarding,  and  heat  promot- 
ing the  process;  and  hence,  by  keeping  fresh  laid  eggs  in  a  cool 
cellar,  or  better  still,  in  an  ice-house,  they  will  transpire  less,  and  be 
preserved  for  a  longer  period  swind,  than  if  they  are  kept  in  a  warm 
place,  or  exposed  to  the  sun's  light,  which  has  also  a  great  effect  in 
promoting  the  exhalation  of  moisture.  As  therefore,  fermentation 
and  putridity  can  only  take  place  by  communication  with  the  air,  at 
a  moderate  temperature,  some  means  must  be  devised  to  exclude  such 
connection,  by  closing  the  pores  of  the  shell. 

The  following  items  are  selected  from  various  sources,  not 
now  known  particularly ;  nor  is  it  of  much  consequence,  as  I 
shall  not  consider  that  I  do  any  great  injustice  to  any  one  by 
failing  to  give  the  original  source  of  them.  Thes-e,  as  well 
as  hundreds  of  other  items,  have  been  the  rounds  of  the  papers 
till  their  paternity  is  lost;  yet  they  are  just  as  valuable,  so 
long  as  they  give  the  result  of  experience,  and  state  facts,  as  if 
I  were  to  receive  them  direct  from  the  Queen  of  England,  who 
is  one  of  the  most  extensive  fowl  fanciers  of  that  kingdom  : 

O 

PICKLING  EGGS. — In  England,  at  the  season  of  the  year  when  the 
stock  of  eggs  is  plentiful,  they  cause  some  four  or  six  do/en  to  be 
boiled  in  a  capacious  saucepan,  until  they  become  quite  hard.  They 
then,  after  removing  the  shells,  lay  them,  carefully  in  large  mouthed 
jars,  and  pour  over  them  scalding  vinegar,  well  seasoned  with  whole 


TO    PRESERVE    EGGS.  199 

pepper,  allspice,  ginger,  and  a  few  cloves  or  garlic.  Then,  when 
cold,  bung  them  down  close.  In  a  month  they  will  be  fit  for  use. 
Where  eggs  are  plentiful,  the  above  pickle  is  by  no  means  expensive, 
and  as  an  acetic  accompaniment  to  cold  meat,  it  cannot  be  outrivalled 
for  piquancy  and  gout  by  the  generality  of  pickles  made  in  this 
country. 

The  above  is  doubtless  a  very  good  method  of  pickling  eggs ;  but 
for  our  part,  we  prefer  putting  them  down  in  salt,  after  dipping  them 
in  whitewash. 

To  PICKLE  EGGS. — Any  that  are  left  from  market,  and  not  wanted 
for  immediate  use,  make  a  nice  and  very  pretty  pickle  to  garnish  cold 
meat  with.  Boil  them  until  quite  hard,  take  off  the  shells,  put  them 
carefully  in  large  mouthed  jars,  and  cover  them  with  cold  vinegar, 
and  they  will  keep  well  for  several  months.  If  white  wine  vinegar 
is  used,  they  will  retain  their  whiteness ;  they  may  be  made  a  beau- 
tiful yellow,  and  the  flavor  improved,  by  the  addition  of  yellow 
mustard,  powdered,  or  a  fine  red,  by  using  vinegar  in  which  beets 
have  been  kept. 

To  PRESERVE  EGGS. — A  pint  of  lime  and  a  pint  of  salt,  mixed  with 
a  pail  of  water,  will  preserve  eggs  for  any  reasonable  time.  My  wife 
read  it  in  an  old  almanac,  and  tried  it  last  year ;  the  eggs  were  as 
fresh  at  the  end  of  six  months  as  if  righWrom  the  nest. 

PRESERVING  EGGS. — Some  years  ago  I  visited  a  friend  who  lived  upon 
a  large  farm  near  the  northern  boundary  of  Pennsylvania,  and,  as  it 
was  late  in  the  autumn,  expressed  surprise  at  the  liberal  supply  of 
eggs  served  up  at  every  meal,  in  cakes,  puddings,  <fcc.  The  lady  told 
me  it  was  all  due  to  the  little  girls !  As  soon  as  the  hens  began  to 
lay  in  the  spring,  they  gathered  the  eggs,  and  covered  each  one  with 
a  coating  of  lard  or  other  soft  grease,  and  then  laid  them,  with  the 
small  end  downwards,  in  regular  piles  on  the  cellar  floor,  or  packed 
them  in  earthen  jars,  which  were  then  filled  with  melted  fat  (not  hot,) 
— this  kept  out  the  air ;  and  these  always  afforded  plenty  for  use 
during  the  whole  year,  besides  those  taken  fresh  from  the  nests,  and 
sent  to  market  This  grease  or  lard  can  be  purified  afterwards,  so  as 
to  answer  for  soap,  by  washing  in  hot  water,  and  straining  through  a 
cloth,  then  put  away  to  cool.  Packed  in  this  way,  I  have  known 
eggs  sent  to  China,  and  have  been  assured  by  those  who  took  them, 
that  they  were  as  good  when  they  reached  Canton,  as  when  they 
left  Xew  York.  Quite  too  fresh  for  the  subjects  of  the  "Brother  of 
the  Moon,"  the  mighty  ruler  of  the  Celestial  Empire,  who  never  think 
an  esrg  fit  to  be  eaten  until  it  has  smell  enough  to  disgust  a  school-boy. 
Another  way  of  keeping  eggs  is,  to  pack  in  jars,  and  pour  lime  water 
over  them,  which  keeps  the  air  out,  and  does  not  injure  them;  for 
everybody  knows  that  egg-shells  are  composed  of  lime.  I  know  a 
lady" who  allowed  her  children  to  build  a  wall  of  eggs  against  the 
cellar  wall,  by  placing  them  in  a  bed  of  slacked  lime,  kept  in  its  place 
by  a  board  in  front,  and  one  at  each  end,  which  were  taken  away 
when  the  wall  was  finished ;  in  this  way  they  kept  perfectly  well  for 
several  months.  But  behold  1  when  they  wanted  to  use  the  eggs, 


200  PROPER  FOOD  FOR  FOWLS. 

they  found  the  lime  had  harden-ed,  ami  was  so  incorporated  with  the 
shells,  that  they  were  obliged  to  break  the  lime  with  a  hatchet,  which 
demolished  the  wall  and  eggs  at  the  same  time ! 

For  many  years  the  following  compound  has  been  recom- 
mended, with  slight  variations,  until  every  man,  woman  and 
child  in  the  land  has  probably  read,  or  heard  of  it : 

"  To  a  bushel  of  quick  lime,  add  two  or  three  pounds  of 
salt,  and  half  a  pound  of  cream  of  tartar."  Water  is  added, 
of  course,  to  make  a  thick  pickle,  into  which  the  eggs  are 
placed.  The  provision  dealers  of  New  York,  formerly  laid 
down  large  quantities  of  eggs  in  this  way,  but  many  were  lost. 
I  have  seen  hogsheads  filled  with  eggs,  and  covered  with  this 
compound,  and  sometimes  not  one  in  five  can  be  used,  when 
kept  nine  or  ten  mouths. 

I  have  had  better  success  with  common  fine  salt  alone.  I 
take  a  clean  tub  or  barrel,  and  put  in  a  layer  of  salt,  so  that 
the  eggs  may  be  set  up  on  their  small  ends,  and  after  covering 
the  surface  with  a  compact  tier,  thus  set,  I  put  in  more  salt, 
and  proceed  as  before,  a»d  cover  the  last  tier  with  a  solid  coat 
of  salt  an  inch  thick,  well  packed  down,  then  I  tie  two  or 
three  large  newspapers  over  the  top,  then  put  on  the  lid,  and 
the  eggs  keep  six  months  in  very  good  condition. 


PROPER     FOOD      FOR      FOWLS. 

The  principle  food  for  fowls  should  be  Indian  corn,,  in  some 
shape,  sometimes  whole,  sometimes  cracked,  sometimes  ground 
to  meal,  and  occasionally  ground  with  the  cob.  Then  you 
want  oats,  buckwheat,  and  any  other  grain  you  please,  but  tho 
three  kinds  here  named  constitute  a  good  supply  for  the  exten- 
sive breeder.  Besides  the  above  grains,  you  should  be  prepared 
to  furnish  a  mess  of  boiled  potatoes,  or  other  vegetables,  several 
times  a  week,  and  mixed  with  meal  of  some  kind  ;  and  be 
careful  to  change  the  diet  of  your  fowls  often.  In  the  laying 
season,  a  solid  feed  of  shelled  corn,  fed  profusely,  is  too  heating, 
and  boiled  potatoes,  when  fed  to  excess,  are  too  laxative.  The 
careful  breeder  will  always  guard  against  these  results,  by 
watching  the  condition  of  his  fowls.  If  laxative,  a  change  of 
food  is  to  be  given  at  once,  of  a  more  solid  nature.  A  little 
rye  or  wheat  is  an  excellent  change  in  such  cases.  If  costive, 
a  boiled  mash  of  potatoes  will  generally  be  a  remedy. 


PROPER  FOOD  FOR  FOWLS.  201 

What  food  will  cause  hens  to.  lay  the  most  eggs,  is  a  ques- 
tion that  will  never  be  decided.  Some  say,  feed  oats ;  others, 
buckwheat,  &c. ;  but  it  is  a  judicious  rotation  of  feeding  that 
produces  the  best  results,  in  my  opinion.  No  one  kind  of  food 
will  make  hens  lay  well,  unless  they  are  provided  with  the 
requisite  concomitants,  such  as  fresh  meat,  fat,  charcoal,  and 
calcareous  matter,  to  assist  nature  in  forming  the  shell  of  the 
egg,  all  of  which  is  found  in  a  wide  range,  without  our  especial 
attention,  or  at  least  enough  to  cause  a  hen  to  lay  her  maximum 
number  of  eggs. 

Broom-corn  seed  is  a  good  grain  to  feed  to  fowls.  They  will 
not  eat  it  in  its  whole  state,  with  that  avidity  that  they  will  eat 
other  grains  ;  but  the  grower  of  broom-corn  can,  by  grinding, 
turn  this  seed  to  a  good  account,  in  feeding  it  to  his  poultry. 

Sun-flower-seeds  have  been  highly  recommended  as  food  for 
fowls.  I  have  fed  them,  but  have  not  seen  any  particular  ben- 
efit from  their  use.  Fowls  require  grass  to  eat  to  a  certain 
extent,  and  they  should  never  be  confined  where  they  cannot 
have  access  to  it,  and  if  they  are  confined  so  as  not  to  be  able 
to  obtain  a  supply  of  bugs  and  worms,  a  little  flesh  of  some 
kind  is  absolutely  necessary  to  their  productiveness.  As  to 
burnt  bones,  mortar,  pounded  oyster  shells,  charcoal,  <fcc.,  no 
one  should  think  of  keeping  a  large  number  of  fowls,  or  even 
any  number,  without  furnishing  a  supply  of  these  things,  unless 
his  fowls  have  a  very  extensive  range  ;  and  even  in  that  case,  it 
would  be  to  his  interest  to  provide  them.  Nolan  makes  the 
following  remarks  in  his  work  on  fowls  : 

Nothing  is  easier  kept  than  fowls.  They  obtain  their  living  pro- 
miscuously, and  pick  up  everything  that  can  be  made  use  of  as  food, 
in  the  farm-yard ;  even  the  worms  give  them  most  nutritious  food 
and  since  the  blight  has  proved  so  destructive  to  the  potatoe  crop,  it 
has  been  satisfactorily  proved,  there  is  no  substitute  for  it,  as  a  feeder 
or  fattener  of  poultry,  or  a  promoter  of  laying.  If  the  potatoes  are 
broken,  and  if  a  little  corn  be  added,  they  will  be  the  more  palata- 
ble ;  the  more  varied  the  food,  the  better ;  boiled  carrots,  turneps, 
parsneps,  Jerusalem  artichokes,  or  other  roots,  boiled  and  mashed 
with  bran,  form  a  healthful  variety.  As  to  green  food,  they  are  par- 
tial to  lettuce,  endive,  cabbage,  spinach,  radish,  turnep,  mangel- 
wurtzel,  chickweed,  grass  seeds,  <fcc. ;  and  if  insectivorous  food  is 
wished  for,  there  is  nothing  more  easily  procured,  at  almost  any 
season,  by  procuring  a  deep  crock,  into  which  put  some  bran,  and  on 
it  lay  a  piece  of  carrion,  or  other  flesh,  cover  it  with  a  glass  cap  so  as 
to  admit  the  light,  but  exclude  the  rain ;  in  a  few  days  it  will  be  a 
moving  mass  of  living  insects,  which  you  can  throw  out  to  your 
poultry  ;  there  is  nothing  they  will  so  greedily  devour ;  they  should 
9* 


202  PROPER    FOOD    FOR    FOWLS. 

be  sparingly  given,  as  the  fowls  are  so  fond  of  them,  that  if  given 
abundantly,  it  will  prevent  them  taking  their  usual  food. 

I  have  experimented  to  a  considerable  extent  to  ascertain  the 
quantity  of  grain  a  given  number  of  fowls  will  consume  in  a 
year,  when  no  other  food  is  furnished.  The  result  is,  that  one 
half  bushel  of  corn,  and  the  same  of  oats,  or  their  equivalent 
in  other  grains,  will  keep  each  fowl  in  good  condition.  I  now 
refer  to  our  common  breeds.  Probably  some  of  the  large 
breeds  will  require  more ;  but  I  have  found  that  some  particular 
breeds,  the  Brahmas  for  instance,  consume  so  much  grass  in  its 
season,  that  the  same  food  that  is  necessary  for  one  of  our  com- 
mon native  fowls,  is  sufficient  for  one  of  that  breed.  The  cost  of 
keeping  each  fowl,  according  to  my  experience,  is  from  fifty  to 
sixty  cents  a  year,  according  to  the  price  of  grain  in  this  vicinity. 
At  the  West,  it  would  not  be  over  twenty-five  cents  in  many 
places.  One  gill  a  day  for  each  fowl,  is  as  much  as  they  will 
consume,  under  ordinary  circumstances.  There  are  two  hun- 
dred and  fifty-six  gills  in  a  bushel,  consequently  this  estimate 
falls  short  of  the  previous  one,  of  a  bushel  to  each  fowl ;  but 
allowing  for  some  imperfect  grain,  and  some  wastage,  we  can 
safely  put  the  quantity  at  one  bushel  per  head,  if  fed  on  corn 
and  oats  chiefly.  If  fed  on  other,  and  more  nutritious  grains, 
such  as  wheat  and  barley,  they  would  not  consume  quite  so 
much  in  quantity,  but  the  cost  would  be  the  same.  Mr. 
Bement,  in  his  work  entitled  "  The  American  Poulterer 's  Com- 
panion? gives  the  result  of  an  experiment  that  substantiates 
my  estimate.  He  says : 

I  was  curious  to  ascertain  the  quantity  of  each  sort  of  grain  which 
a  given  number  of  fowls,  when  abundantly  supplied,  would  consume, 
and  for  that  purpose,  I  confined  one  cock  and  seven  hens  of  the  Poland 
variety.  The  first  feed  I  gave  them  was  one  peck  of  Indian  corn, 
which  they  consumed  in  eleven  days.  I  then  fed  them  one  peck  of 
oats,  which  they  ate  in  six  days.  The  next  feed  was  the  same  quan- 
tity of  barley,  which  lasted  them  seven  days.  The  like  quantity  of 
Wheat,  they  consumed  in  ten  days.  The  same  quantity  of  millet 
lasted  them  eight  days,  and  the  like  quantity  of  wheat-screenings 
they  devoured  in  seven  days.  During  this  trial,  they  had  no  other 
food,  except  a  few  boiled  potatoes, 

In  the  case  of  the  feeding  of  a  peck  of  corn  to  eight  fowls, 
which  was  consumed  in  eleven  days,  it  was  at  the  rate  of  a 
bushel  a  head,  per  annum.  Thirty- three  pecks,  or  eight  and 
one  quarter  bushels,  would  have  been  required  to  feed  these 
fowls  one  year,  had  they  eaten  with  the  same  appetite  the 


MANNER    OF    FEEDING.  203 

entire  time ;  but  they  would  not  have  eaten  so  much  after  the 
first  ten  or  twenty  days,  which  shows  that  one  bushel,  half 
corn,  and  half  oats,  is  a  correct  estimate  of  the  quantity  each 
fowl  will  generally  consume.  We  often  see  statements  in  the 
papers  that  certain  fowls  have  cost  seventy,  eighty,  or  ninety 
cents,  or  even  one  dollar  a  head,  per  annum,  for  keeping ;  but 
these  are  cases  in  which  their  food  has  been  purchased  at  high 
rates. 


MANNER      OF      FEEDING. 

Regularity  should  always  be  observed  in  the  hours  of  feed- 
ing, also  in  the  quantity  of  food  given.  Not  surfeit  them  one 
day,  and  starve  them  the  next,  but  give  the  fowls  their  food  as 
regularly  as  you  take  your  own  meals. 

Various  inventions  have  been  constructed  to  feed  with  facility, 
and  to  lessen  labor,  and  at  the  same  time  not  expose  the  grain 
to  the  depredations  of  vermin.  I  will  endeavor  to  describe  one 
of  the  best  and  only  plan  I  can  recommend. 

In  the  first  place,  a  square  box  is  made,  say  eighteen  inches 
square,  and  one  foot  high,  with  a  lid  hung  on  hinges.  This 
box  is  set  on  legs  like  those  of  a  plain  table,  one  at  each  corner. 
Within  the  space  between  the  legs,  a  hopper  some  two  feet  long 
is  placed,  which  connects  with  the  box  above,  which  'box  has 
no  bottom,  observe.  The  hopper  is  made  to  converge  on  each 
side  to  a  point  at  the  bottom,  in  which  is  a  hole  about  an  inch 
in  diameter,  to  allow  the  grain  to  pass  out  into  a  receiver  under, 
and  joining  to  the  said  hopper,  and  some  eight  inches  from  the 
ground.  The  receiver  is  of  the  shape  of  an  inverted  hopper, 
but  much  more  depressed,  or  its  cone  being  formed  by  a  much 
more  acute  angle  than  the  hopper  above.  On  each  side  of  this 
receiver  is  a  trap  door,  which  is  made  to  open  when  the  fowl 
hops  upon  a  little  ladder  that  projects  from  under  the  receiver, 
and  which  is  so  arranged  that  the  weight  of  the  fowl  on  the 
ladder  raises  the  lid  to  the  receiver,  and  exposes  the  grain. 
The  fowl  eats  as  much  as  she  desires,  hops  down,  and  the  lid 
closes.  The  fowls  have  to  be  trained  to  feed  from  these 
receivers  a  few  days,  with  the  lids  open,  and  fastened  up. 

The  above  described  feeder  was  originally  introduced  in  the 
"Transactions  of  the  Highland  Society,"  of  Scotland,  from 
which  I  make  the  following  extract : 

It  can  be  made  to  contain  any  quantity  of  grain  required,  and  none 


204  MANNER    OF    FEEDING. 

wasted.  "When  once  filled,  it  requires  no  more  trouble,  as  the  grain 
falls  into  the  receiver  below  as  the  fowls  pick  it  away  ;  and  the  covers 
on  that,  which  are  opened  by  the  perches,  (the  principles  of  which 
we  do  not  understand,)  and  the  cover  on  the  top,  protect  the  grain 
from  rain,  so  that  the  fowls  always  get  it  quite  dry  ;  and  as  nothing 
less  than  the  weight  of  a  hen  on  the  perch  can  lift  the  cover  on  the 
lower  receiver,  rats  and  mice  (which  are  very  troublesome  when 
grain  is  fed  in  the  ordinary  way,)  are  excluded.  It  is  astonishing,  too, 
with  what  facility  the  fowls  learn  to  leap  upon  the  perches,  and  so 
open  the  cover  of  the  receiver,  which  presents  the  gram  to  their  view 
and  within  their  reach.  On  their  leaving  the  perch  or  platform,  the 
door,  either  by  a  spring  or  weight,  closes  at  once. 

It  is  barely  possible  that  the  reader  will  fully  understand  the 
exact  manner  in  which  this  feeder  is  made,  in  the  absence  of  a 
cut,  which  I  omitted  to  procure,  in  consequence  of  the  great 
and  unusual  number  of  other  engravings  that  I  have  had 
executed  for  this  work. 

The  principle  by  which  the  weight  of  the  fowl  is  made  to 
open  the  lids  to  the  receiver,  was  not  fully  explained,  but  the 
genius  of  our  people  will  soon  find  a  way  to  etfect  that  object. 

Mr.  Bement  constructed  one  differing  somewhat  from  that 
spoken  of  by  the  Highland  Society,  which  he  thus  describes : 

This  feeding  hopper  is  four-square,  two  feet  each  way — posts  eighteen 
inches  long  and  two  inches  square.  The  upper  section  of  the  box  is 
six  inches  deep,  and  the  sides  are  morticed  into  or  nailed  to  the  posts. 
From  the  bottom  of  this  square,  the  slanting  part  or  tunnel  reaches 
to  within  half  an  inch  of  the  floor,  which  should  be  six  inches  from 
the  ground ;  the  tunnel  tap'ers  from  two  to  one  feet ;  and  in  order  to 
bring  the  grain  within  reach  of  the  fowls,  a  cone  is  placed  in  the 
centre,  as  much  smaller  than  the  hopper  as  to  leave  half  an  inch 
space  all  around,  which  conducts  the  grain  to  the  edge,  where,  as  the 
fowls  pick  the  g^rain  away,  more  will  fail,  and  keep  a  constant  supply 
as  long  as  any  is  left  in  the  hopper.  The  slats  on  the  sides  prevent 
the  fowls  from  getting  in  or  crowding  one  another.  This  fountain 
will  hold  two  bushels  or  more  of  grain,  and  protects  it  from  wet,  and 
in  a  measure  from  rats.  It  occupies  but  little  room,  and  from  sixteen 
to  twenty  fowls  can  feed  at  the  same  time. 

To  protect  the  grain  more  effectually  from  rats  and  mice,  we  would 
suggest  that  the  posts  be  made  some  two  feet  longer,  and  a  platform 
of  boards  about  one  foot  wide,  placed  round,  and  fitted  close  up  to 
the  bottom,  so  that  mice  cannot  climb  up  the  posts  and  get  in.  This 
platform  will  be  necessary  for  them  to  stand  on  when  eating. 

All  matter  pertaining  to  the  feeding  of  fowls,  I  consider  very 
important,  and  I  think  that  I  cannot  better  serve  the  interests 
of  my  readers,  than  by  making  copious  extracts  of  interesting 
matter.  The  following  are  selections  from  the  journals  of  the 
day  : 


MANNER    OF    FEEDING.  205 

There  was  an  article  in  the  Pittsfield  Culturist,  in  which  the  writer 
attributes  the  loss  of  fowls  to  their  eating  the  seeds  of  pumpkins. 
The  idea  that  they  are  injurious,  and  that  fowls  will  not  eat  them,  1 
am  aware  is  quite  common ;  but  for  years  the  reverse  has  been  true 
with  us.  They  have  eaten  a  large  proportion  of  the  seeds  that  were 
scattered  in  feeding  pumpkins  to  cows,  and  chopping  or  breaking 
them  to  boil  as  food  for  hogs,  though  the  fowls  were  fed  daily  with 
some  kind  of  grain.  Having  a  larger  number  of  fowls  and  a  less 
quantity  of  feed  this  season  than  usual,  some  pains  were  taken,  k. 
cutting  up  pumpkins,  to  shake  out,  and  scatter  most  of  the  seeds  on 
the  ground,  expressly  for  the  hens.  When  boiling  for  hogs,  nearly  a, 
load  of  pumpkins  were  broken  up  during  the  day  ;  and  days  we  did 
not  boil,  pumpkins  were  broken  open  to  supply  them  with  seeds.  In 
this  way  some  sixty  or  seventy  hens  have  disposed  of  a  large  propor- 
tion of  the  seeds  of  twenty-five  loads  of  pumpkins,  (two  horse  wagon 
loads.)  I  have  not  seen  any  bad  effects  from  their  eating  them,  either 
this  or  former  seasons.  On  the  contrary,  they  have  done  well  on 
them — have  become  fat.  Now  if  I  were  possessed  of  any  of  the 
popular  breeds  of  fowls,  valued  from  $80  to  $100  per  pair,  I  might 
hesitate  in  feeding  them  with  pumpkin  seeds ;  but  with  our  common 
fowls,  I  should  as  soon  hesitate  in  feeding  corn,  from  fear  of  any 
injurious  effects  that  might  follow. — Selected. 

We  have  had  some  little  experience  in  the  '  henery,'  and  have 
found  a  great  secret  in  getting  a  supply  of  eggs  through  the  whole 
season,  but  not  in  driving  the  hens  up  hill,  nor  in  feeding  them 
exclusively  on  gravel,  nor  in  supplying  them  with  chalk  nest-eggs. 
The  whole  secret  consists  in  giving  them  plenty  of  food,  as  the  chicken's 
mill  is  very  convenient.  For  six  or  eight  months  in  the  year,  the 
chickens  will  supply  themselves  with  animal  food,  in  the  shape  of 
insects,  but  the  rest  of  the  time  feed  them  regularly  with  flesh  as  well 
as  corn.  Boiled  potatoes  are  an  excellent  food  for  fowls,  but  with  it 
they  want  grain  of  some  kind,  and  flesh  also.  In  our  long  hot  sum- 
mers, poultry  are  inclined  to  become  lousy ;  but  if  clean,  good  ashes, 
are  placed  convenient  to  the  hen-house,  the  hens  will  dust  themselves 
in  them  until  the  vermin  disappear.  Nature  is  their  teacher,  and  here 
is  the  unerring  guide.  A  good  shelter  should  be  provided  for  the 
chickens  to  roost  under.  The  manure  of  chickens,  properly  saved, 
•will  repay  all  expenses  of  feeding.  It  is  a  great  error  to  crowd  too 
many  chickens  together. — Selected. 

As  I  have  had  three  years'  experience,  with  some  twelve  different 
breeds,  I  will  give  you  my  views  in  this  matter.  It  depends  upon  the 
breeds,  I  think,  as  to  the  manner  of  feeding.  All  of  the  Asiatic 
breeds,  I  feed  in  this  wise:  I  make  three  boxes  that  will  hold  half  a 
peck  of  corn,  each.  I  fill  one  with  corn,  another  with  buckwheat, 
and  set  them  all  before  them  at  once,  and  am  careful  not  to  let  either 
get  empty.  I  feed  all  of  the  large  breeds  in  this  way.  Once  a  week 
in  winter,  I  put  into  the  coop  a  cabbage  or  two,  to  six  or  eight  fowls. 

My  smaller  breeds  I  feed  in  winter  only  on  one  kind  of  grain,  but 
keep  it  before  them,  such  as  the  golden  and  silver  Pheasants  and  Ban- 
tams, as  these  will  not  lay  in  the  coldest  months,  at  any  rate  as  far 


206  MANNER    OF    FEEDING. 

as  my  experience  goes,  even  if  fed  upon  all  sorts  of  grain.  All  fowls 
should  be  placed  so  as  to  have  the  sun  and  come  to  the  ground  ;  also 
ehould  have  a  box  of  ashes  set  so  as  the  sun  will  shine  upon  it,  and 
they  will  wallow  in  it  more  freely.  If  they  have  plenty  of  gravel, 
they  will  not  become  too  fat,  or  oyster  shells,  or  burnt  bones,  pounded 
line.  I  am  satisfied  that  this  is  the  cheapest  way  of  keeping  these 
breed:?.  Geese  do  not  require  to  be  kept  in  this  way,  as  they  will  be 
healthy  if  not  fed  so  high. — Selected. 

Richardson,  the  English  author,  observes : 

"  You  must  separate  the  two  classes  of  fowls,  layers  and  fatteners, 
at  all  events  at  feeding  time.  Make  some  separate  provision  for  your 
cocks ;  if  they  are  only  fed  in  company  with  the  hens,  they  are  apt 
to  think  too  much  of  their  mistresses,  and  to  neglect  their  own  appe- 
tites ;  and  recollect,  that  to  have  strong  chickens,  you  must  have  a 
strong  cock,  which  an  ill-fed  bird  cannot  be  expected  to  prove.  You 
should  also  make  separate  provision  for  such  fowls  as  are  bullied  or 
oppressed  by  the  rest.  Fowls  are  much  given  to  jealousy  •  the  cock's 
favor  is  sometimes  the  cause  of  this,  but  by  no  means  invariably  so; 
and,  indeed,  the  cause  is  not  at  all  times  to  be  ascertained ;  however 
obscure  the  cause,  it  is  incumbent  on  the  poultry  fancier  to  prevent 
the  effect,  by  adopting  the  separative  system  at  the  times  indicated. 

In  such  an  occurrence,  which  is  easily  recognizable  by  the  cock's 
continually  running  at  that  particular  bird,  to  the  neglect,  or  .com- 
parative neglect,  of  the  others,  it  is  best  to  remove  the  favorite  at  once ; 
if  not,  quarrels  will  ensue ;  this  hen  will  nearly  always  be  made  a 
victim,  and  in  many  cases  the  quarrels  on  her  account  will  give  rise 
to  other  and  more  general  affrays.  On  such  occasions,  the  cock 
usually  interferes,  and  endeavors  to  establish  peace ;  he  almost  inva- 
riably does  so  when  the  contest  is  carried  on  per  duello  ;  when,  how- 
ever, a  number  of  his  mistresses  fall  upon  one,  his  interference  is  of 
little  avail ;  and,  as  if  he  were  conscious  of  this,  in  such  cases  he 
usually  leaves  the  poor  favorite  to  her  fate.  I  would  not  be  so  minute, 
but  that  I  feel  that  these  remarks,  the  result  of  long  observation,  will 
interest  the  naturalist  as  well  as  the  mere  poultry  fancier.  I  have 
also  known  a  cock  to  take  a  dislike  to  a  particular  hen  ;  and,  in  one 
instance,  he  did  not  desist  from  his  persecution  till  the  poor  thing 
died.  This  is  a  much  more  rare  case  than  the  preceding,  and  I  have 
no  doubt  of  its  cause ;  it  is  this — when  a  vigorous,  healthy  cock,  is 
mated  with  very  feio  hens,  he  is  very  persevering  in  his  attentions  to 
them  ;  when  hens  are  in  moult,  they  will  not  accept  of  any  such.  In 
most  instances  of  this  kind,  I  have  found  the  hen  thus  victimized  by 
her  lord,  to  have  been  moulting,  and  to  have  incurred  his  hatred  by 
a  refusal  of  conjugal  rights.  The  cock  will  sometimes  fall  upon  a  hen 
newly  introduced  into  your  yard,  especially  if  of  a  different  color 
from  his  other  mates.  This  recently  occurred  amongst  my -own  fowls, 
they  being  chiefly  black  Spanish,  and  the  new  hen,  a  yellow  Ham- 
burgh. I  tried  the  experiment  of  coloring  the  latter  black;  the  cock 
no  longer  beat  her,  and  he  did  not  seem  to  notice  the  subsequent 
gradual  renewal  of  the  yellow,  as  the  black  wore  off. 


FATTENING    FOWLS.  207 


Mr.  Mellendy,  the  extensive  fowl  breeder,  of  Mount  Healthy, 
Ohio,  writes  me : 

I  feed  my  old  fowls,  corn,  wheat,  oats,  barley,  and  broom-corn  seed. 
I  feed  them  but  once  a  day.  I  give  them  all  they  can  eat  of  the 
grain.  I  have  in  boxes  in  each  department,  old  mortar,  oyster  shells, 
bones  and  sand.  I  water  twice  a  day  in.  summer,  and  once  in  winter. 
I  give  them  cabbage,  lettuce,  and  grass,  twice  a  week.  In  winter,  I 
feed  once  a  week  on  red  pepper.  Fowls  fed  in  this  way,  will  lay,  if 
they  are  of  the  right  breed. 

Mr.  Miner, — The  following  method  will  be  found  a  good  one.  Once 
a  clay  in  summer,  feed  on  a  mixture  of  corn  and  barley,  or  corn  and 
oat?.  This  will  be  sufficient,  if  your  fowls  have  a  large  enclosure 
where  they  can  obtain  gravel,  insects,  worms,  and  green  food.  If  they 
are  confined  to  a  small  space,  these  substances  must  be  supplied  them, 
liberally.  In  winter,  keep  corn,  mixed  sometimes  with  barley,  and 
sometimes  with  oats,  constantly  before  them,  as  well  as  pounded 
oyster  shells,  burnt  bones,  and  a  plenty  of  gravel.  Occasionally,  give 
boiled  potatoes,  mashed,  and  mixed  with  Indian  meal,  or  bran — warm, 
but  not  hot.  Twice  or  three  times  a  week,  give  them  scraps  from  the 
tallow  chandler's,  or  fresh  meat.  Let  them  have  wood  ashes  to  dust 
themselves  in,  and  an  abundance  of  .clean  water,  fresh  every  day ;  in 
freezing  weather,  the  water  should  be  warmed.  Chickens  require  no 
food  for  the  first  twenty-four  hours  after  they  are  hatched ;  I  have, 
however,  been  in  the  habit  of  giving  them  water  in  about  twelve 
hours  from  the  time  they  leave  the  shell.  After  the  first  twenty-four 
hours,  for  about  two  months,  I  give  them  coarse  meal,  or  cracked 
corn,  moistened  a  very  little,  and  sometimes  dry,  three  or  four  times 
a  day;  occasionally  vary  their  food,  by  giving  sometimes  cooked 
meat,  chopped  fine,  and  sometimes  crumbs  of  bread.  I  also  prefer  to 
feed  damaged  wheat,  that  is  to  say,  wheat  that  has  grown.  This  can 
often  be  procured  at  low  rates,  and  is  the  very  best  of  food  for  fowls. 
An  abundance  of  clean  water  should  be  constantly  before  them.  It 
will  not  answer  to  feed  fowls  wholly  upon  any  one  variety  of  food. 
Fowls  require  a  mixture  of  green  food  with  hard  food,  fully  as  much 
ns  horses  o-r  cattle  do.  When  fowls  have  sufficient  range,  they  will 
find  this  for  themselves  in  summer ;  when  they  do  not  possess  such  on 
advantage,  you  must  provide  green  food  for  them. 

A.  A.  HUDSOX. 


FATTENING      FOWLS. 

The  process  of  fattening  fowls  should  be  a  speedy  one.  Two 
weeks  is  about  the  extent  of  time  that  they  should  be  cooped, 
in  my  opinion.  They  should  be  kept  in  a  place  where,  there  is 
but  little  light — just  enough  to  allow  them  to  eat  and  drink — 
by  which  they  remain  quiet,  and  take  on  fat  rapidly.  They 
should  be  supplied  with  pounded  charcoal  and  gravel.  Some 


208  MANAGEMENT    OF    YOUNG    CHICKENS. 

people  confine  their  fowls  in  close  quarters  to  fatten,  and  even 
tie  their  feet  fast  to  the  floor  of  their  coop.  Hear  what  this 
cruel  fellow  did,  clipped  from  an  agricultural  paper : 

I  had  a  box  made  and  divided  into  three  parts,  eight  inches  by  four- 
teen, just  large  enough  to  admit  one  fowl  to  each  division.  It  was 
made  tight  enough  to  exclude  the  light  of  day,  mostly,  yet  I  left 
openings  enough  for  fresh  air.  I  then  placed  two  roosters  and  one  hen 
turkey  in  the  box,  (one  fowl  fn  each  division,)  confining  their  feet  to 
the  floor,  so  that  they  could  not  move  from  the  position  in  which  I 
placed  them.  The  front  of  the  box  I  hung  on  hinges,  for  convenience 
of  feeding,  <fcc. 

Most  people  have  noticed  that  at  sunrise  and  sunset,  all  kinds  of 
poultry  eat  voraciously,  and  I  supposed  that  if  they  were  kept  in  the 
dark,  (at  which  time  of  quiet  all  animals  fatten  most,)  and  the  sun- 
light admitted  several  times  during  the  day,  and  fed  at  that  time,  they 
might  be  induced  to  take  on  fat  rapidly,  and  in  this  I  was  not  disap- 
pointed. I  fed  them  with  rice  boiled  in  milk,  and  sweetened  with 
molasses,  giving  them  water  to  drink  but  once  during  their  confine- 
ment, and  at  the  end  of  sixteen  days  I  killed  them.  Handsomer  and 
fatter  birds  I  never  saw.  By  some  such  method  as  this,  I  have  no 
doubt  that  the  income  of  farmers  from  this  source,  might  be  greatly 
augmented.  A  series  of  well-conducted  experiments  of  this  kind 
might  be  of  benefit  to  your  readers,  and  the  public  generally.  "Who 
will  undertake  it? 

For  fattening,  corn  is  the  best  food  that  can  be  procured.  If 
it  is  cracked  in  a  mill,  and  moistened  with  water,  it  is  consid- 
ered by  many  as  preferable  to  the  whole  grain. 

The  system  of  the  forcible  cramming  of  fowls,  is  barbarous, 
and  unworthy  of  honorable  notice.  If  a  fowl  will  not  fatten 
by  natural  means,  sufficient  to  satisfy  the  gormandizing  pro- 
pensities of  epicures,  then,  I  say,  let  them  go  without  poultry. 


MANAGEMENT      OF      YOUNO      CHICKENS. 

It  sometimes  happens  that  the  confined  chick  is  unable  to 
break  the  shell  of  the  egg  at  the  proper  time,  owing  to  weak- 
ness, or  to  the  unusual  thickness  and  strength  of  the  shell.  In 
such  cases,  no  aid  can  be  rendered  that  will  save  the  life  of  the 
chick  as  a  general  rule.  I  have  heard  the  little  laborers  peck- 
ing faithfully  for  a  half  a  day,  or  more,  when  I  have  carefully 
broken  the  shells  of  the  eggs,  but  in  most  cases,  the  chicks 
died,  sooner  or  later,  some  living  several  days.  In  other 
cases,  they  are  able  to  break  the  shell,  but  go  no  further,  and 
soon  die,  unless  relieved.  This  is  a  very  precarious  duty,  and 


GAPES   IN    CHICKEN8.  209 

should  be  delayed  ten  or  twelve  hours,  at  least,  after  the  shell  is 
"  pipped,"  as  it  is  termed,  and  then  operate  with  a  very  careful 
hand,  and  avoid  the  breaking  of  the  blood  vessels,  and  if  the 
egg  is  not  wholly  absorbed  by  the  chick,  you  should  not  liberate 
it  entirely  until  that  is  effected. 

The  most  natural,  and  the  most  healthy  food  for  chicks, 
during  the  first  few  days  of  their  existence,  is  boiled  eggs, 
which  may,  if  you  please,  be  mixed  with  bread  soaked  in 
milk,  or  pounded  crackers.  This  food  is  only  recommended 
in  rearing  the  most  valuable  breeds.  Our  common  breeds  can 
hardly  expect  such  dainty  fare.  During  the  first  twenty-four 
hours,  they  require  no  food  whatever,  and  the  less  they  are 
disturbed,  the  better. 

After  chicks  are  a  week  old,  they  may  eat  a  variety  of  food 
with  safety,  but  avoid  fine  Indian  meal,  unless  it  be  mixed  with 
some  lighter  food,  as  it  will  bake  or  harden  in  their  crops,  and 
kill  them.  Wheat  screenings,  buckwheat,  wheat,  and  barley, 
are  excellent  food.  Rye  is  not  good  ;  it  is  astringent.  Indian 
meal  and  bran,  mixed,  are  good,  but  not  recommended  as  a 
constant  feed.  Various  other  things  m-ay  be  fed  to  advantage, 
such  as  sour  milk,  boiled  potatoes  mixed  with  meal,  &c.,  that 
the  breeder's  own  good  judgment  will  dictate.  Mr.  P.  Melendy 
writes  me  as  follows : 

:  For  the  first  two  weeks  after  the  chicks  are  hatched,  I  feed  corn 
ground  in  a  coffee  mill.  I  grind  it  very  coarse.  I  also  give  them 
hard  boiled  eggs,  and  plenty  of  clean  water,  and  thick  milk.  I  then 
feed  on  corn,  as  above,  and  whole  wheat 


GAPE  S      IN      CHIC  KENS. 

The  following  communications  to  the  Northern  Farmer  are 
valuable,  and  throw  much  light  on  this  subject : 

GAPES  IN  CHICKENS. — I  have  tried  nearly  all  the  various  remedies 
going  the  rounds  in  the  various  papers  of  the  day,  for  gapes  in 
chickens,  such  as  sulphur,  soap,  pepper,  spirits  of  turpentine,  and 
various  other  remedies  too  numerous  to  mention,  without  any  bene- 
ficial results  ;  and  why  ?  because  any  of  these  medicines,  either  given 
or  fed  to  them  in  their  food,  can  never  reach  or  remove  the  cause, 
which  is  nothing  more  or  less  than  a  worm  in  the  windpipe,  where 
none  of  these  medicines  can  ever' reach  them.  For  the  last  two  years 
I  have  tried  the  method  of  extracting  these  worms,  (which  is  very 
simple,  and  easily  done,)  and  have  never  failed  in  a  single  instance  to 
effect  a  cure  ;  the  method  is  this :  take  a  quill  from  a  hen's  wing,  strip 
the  feather  from  each  side  to  within  an  inch  of  the  end,  with  a-pair 


210  GAPES    IN    CHICKENS. 

of  shears  trim  the  remaining  feathers  to  a  point,  leaving  them  nearly 
half  an  inch  wide  in  the  widest  place ;  then,  holding  the  chicken's 
legs  between  the  knees,  with  one  hand  hold  the  chicken's  head  and 
neck  in  a  perpendicular  direction,  holding  the  mouth  open  with  the 
thumb  and  finger,  with  the  other  hand  insert  the  feather  into  the 
windpipe,  the  opening  of  which  will  be  readily  seen  on  the  roots  of 
the  tongue,  and  which  the  chicken  will  open  in  the  act  of  breathing, 
push  it  down  gently  as  far  as  it  will  go,  and  twisting  it  round,  pull  it 
out,  which  will  either  bring  out  the  worms,  or  loosen  them  so  that 
the  chicken  will  cough  them  up.  In  some  cases  it  may  be  necessary 
to  repeat  the  operation,  in  order  to  effect  a  cure.  In  one  instance  I 
extracted  twenty-four  worms  from  the  windpipe  of  one  chicken,  none 
of  which  were  less  than  an  inch  long,  and  by  only  two  insertions  of 
the  feather.  The  chicken  to  all  appearance  was  nearly  dead  before  it 
was  operated  upon,  and  in  less  than  an  hour  after,  it  appeared  and 
eat  as  well  any  chicken  I  had.  I  presume  I  have  saved  more  than 
a  hundred  chickens  by  this  simple  process. 

H.  V.  N.  DIMMICK. 

MR.  MINER — Dear  Sir :  For  the  benefit  of  all  the  subscribers  to  the 
Northern  Farmer,  and  fowl  fanciers,  I  would  say,  that  onions  are  a 
sure  cure  for  the  gapes  in  chickens,  and  if  fed  on  them  daily,  they  will 
not  have  any  disease  whatever.  They  do  not  like  them  at  first,  but 
will  soon  be  very  fond  of  them.  I  bought  one  last  summer,  and  found 
after  I  had  put  it  with  my  other  fowls,  that  it  had  got  the  pip,  as  we 
call  it  here,  and  in  one  week  all  of  my  chickens  had  this  disease  the 
very  worst  kind.  I  gave  them  lard  and  Cayenne  pepper,  equal  parts, 
once  a  day,  and  fed  them  daily  on  onions,  and  in  one  week  they  were 
as  well  as  ever.  ****** 

Norwich,  Conn. 

GAPES  IN  CHICKENS,  LICE,  AND  ROUP. — For  the  benefit  of  all  the 
subscribers  to  the  Northern  Farmer;  and  those  that  are  in  the  poultry 
business,  I  would  say  that  spirits  of  turpentine  is  a  sure  cure  for  gapes 
in  chickens,  also  the  roup,  if  taken  in  season.  I  have  tried  it  for  the 
last  six  months,  with  pleasing  success  in  all  cases  when  taken  in 
season.  In  the  first  stages,  it  should  be  given  two  or  three  times  a 
day  with  care. 

Those  that  use  grease  to  kill  lice  on  chickens,  must  be  careful  and 
not  use  too  much,  as  too  much  is  sure  to  kill  lice,  chickens  and  all.  I 
have  used  spirits  of  turpentine  mixed  with  alcohol  and  a  little  water, 
with  good  results ;  the  chickens  will  soon  dry,  and  be  as  lively  as  ever. 

W.  E.  W. 

GAPES. — Several  remedies  have  been  given  for  the  gapes.  Salt 
given  in  their  water  has  been  recommended.  Spirits  of  turpentine, 
mixed  with  rice,  has  also  been  used  with  success.  The  generality  of 
breeders  agree  that  the  gapes  are  produced  by  the  fascicola,  a  para- 
sitic worm  in  the  windpipe,  which  may  be  removed  by  the  introduc- 
tion into  it  of  a  small  feather,  without  any  web,  except  at  the  farther 
end.  Give  the  feather  a  few  turns,  and  the  fascicola  will  be  either 
dislodged,  and  coughed  up  by  the  chick,  or  brought  up  on  the  end  of 


CHICKENS   RAISED    WITHOUT    A    MOTHER.  211 

the  feather.  "We  have  tried  this  plan,  but  never  found  any  worms. 
Our  plan  is,  (and  we  have  never  yet  had  a  chicken  die  with  the  gapes,) 
to  have  mother  and  chicks  comfortably  housed  at  sundown — keep 
their  drinking  water  in  shallow  iron  vessels,  and  give  them  once  a 
day  a  little  ground  Cayenne  pepper  mixed  with  corn  meal.  In  the 
morning,  they  are  permitted  to  run  at  large  as  early  as  their  inclina- 
tion prompts  them, — Pa.  Farm  Journal. 

GAPES  IN  CHICKENS. — I  have  lost  a  great  many  chickens  by  this 
disease.  I  have  tried  all  the  remedies  that  have  been  published,  and 
killed  more  than  I  cured,  and  I  am  convinced  that  all  you  give  the 
chick  will  do  no  good.  I  have  cut  open  the  windpipes  of  more  than 
fifty,  and  find  a  small,  red  worm  there,  some  half  an  inch  long.  Kow 
all  that  is  given  to  the  chick,  goes  down  the  throat,  and  not  where  the 
worm  is.  I  have  saved  more  by  the  following  plan,  than  by  any 
other  way: 

Take  tobacco  stems,  and  put  them  into  a  tin  or  iron  vessel.  Put  in 
a  few  shavings,  and  set  them  on  fire,  with  the  tobacco.  Take  the 
chick  and  hold  it  over  the  smoke  till  it  stops  gaping.  Take  it  away 
two  or  three  times  a  minute,  to  get  breath.  The  smoke  that  is  inhaled 
in  the  windpipe,  suffocates  the  worm,  and  causes  the  chick  to  sneeze 
and  cough  it  up.  Repeat  every  two  days.  There  is  a  black  worm  that 
I  sometimes  find,  which  is  sure  to  kill  the  chick.  There  is  no  remedy 
for  them. 

P.  MELENDY. 


LICE      ON      CHICKENS. 

A  little  lamp  oil,  put  on  the  heads  and  under  the  wings  of 
chickens,  I  have  always  found  to  be  a  certain  remedy  for  lice. 
Tobacco  juice  is  also  a  good  remedy.  Lard  rubbed  on  their 
heads,  and  under  their  wings,  is  said  to  be  a  good  remedy. 
The  above  three  articles  are  considered  so  effectual,  that  nothing 
further  need  be  said.  The  oil  is  the  best,  I  think. 

CHICKENS     RAISED      WITHOUT      A     MOTHER. 

Various  plans  have  been  adopted  to  rear  chickens  without 
the  aid  of  hens,  and  with  a  good  degree  of  success.  A  chick 
that  is  taken  from  the  hen  as  soon  as  hatched,  or  within  twen- 
ty-four hours  thereafter,  soon  forgets  her,  and  if  comfortable 
quarters  are  provided,  it  grows  up  merry  and  contented.  "Arti- 
ficial mothers,"  or  brooders,  are  frequently  made  of  sheep-skins, 
•with  the  wool  down,  under  which  the  chicks  run  at  night. 

I  have  often  raised  large  numbers  of  chickens  in  an  enclosure, 
without  any  hens.  My  plan  is  to  make  a  yard  of  boards,  so 
high  that  a  chicken  cannot  fly  over  till  about  two  or  three  weeks 


212  CHICKENS    RAISED    WITHOUT    A    MOTHER. 

old.  The  yard  to  be  twenty-five  or  thirty  feet  square  for  one 
hundred  chickens.  In  one  corner  I  construct  their  lodgings,  to 
be  well  ventilated  in  warm  weather,  yet  admitting  no  rain. 
Around,  at  the  sides  of  this  little  building,  within,  I  place  a 
continuous  row  of  sheep-skins,  with  the  wool  down,  and  sup- 
ported on  light  framework.  The  distance  from  the  floor  is 
about  two  inches  at  first,  and  raised,  as  the  chickens  grow,  to 
three  or  four  inches.  I  am  particular  to  afford  a  circulation  of 
air  on  all  sides  of  the  skins,  and  if  a  few  air-holes  be  made  in 
the  centres  of  them,  the  better,  as  chickens  cannot  live  without 
fresh  air,  at  any  season.  The  chickens  being  placed  under 
these  skins  once  or  twice,  will  retire  of  their  own  accord  there- 
after, and  the  animal  heat  generated  by  them  in  a  body,  keeps 
them  warm.  In  stormy  weather,  they  should  not  be  allowed 
to  leave  their  domicil,  which  should  be  large  enough  to  give 
them  room  to  eat,  &c.,  without  being  crowded.  This  little 
building  should  be  kept  clean,  and  have  ashes  and  lime  sprinkled 
on  the  floor,  and  the  skins  should  be  aired  occasionally,  and  a 
little  spirits  of  turpentine  sprinkled  over  the  wool,  would  be  an 
excellent  preventive  of  lice. 

When  the  chicks  are  old  enough  to  fly  over  a  fence  eighteen 
inches  high,  (that  is  a  suitable  height,)  let  them  do  so,  and 
ramble  about  at  pleasure,  but  you  should  have  facilities  for  their 
return,  as  they  will  not  be  so  eager  to  fly  into  the  yard  as  out 
of  it.  Some  logs  of  wood,  or  anything,  may  be  placed  against 
the  outside  of  the  fence,  to  enable  them  to  return  with  ease. 
It  is  not  prudent  to  allow  them  to  run  at  large,  till  they  can 
fly  over  one  or  two  boards. 

On  one  occasion  I  had  three  hundred  chicks  hatched  out 
within  the  same  week,  or  rather  less  time  than  a  whole  week, 
and  I  placed  them  in  a  pen  by  the  side  of  a  potato  field,  into 
which  they  ran  when  of  a  suitable  age,  and  grew  finely,  pro- 
curing nearly  their  entire  support  in  bugs,  <fec.  All  went  on 
remarkably  well,  none  died  of  any  account,  and  I  never  before 
saw  chicks  grow  so  rapidly.  When  about  a  month  old,  a 
thunder-storm  came  on  so  suddenly,  that  it  caught  them  all 
out,  and  the  wind  blew  so  furiously  that  they  were  bewildered, 
and  knew  not  what  to  do.  I  endeavored  to  call  them  in,  but 
could  not ;  they  had  taken  a  precarious  shelter  beneath  the 
potato  vines,  and  there  they  were  drenched  for  two  hours. 
Then  it  cleared  off  with  a  raw,  cold  wind,  that  stiffened  them, 
and  more  than  half  perished.  This  result,  however,  is  no 


coors.  213 

objection  to  the  plan  of  rearing  without  a  mother,  but  we 
should  never  place  our  yards  by  the  side  of  a  thickly  planted 
potato-patch.  It  would  be  much  better  to  plant  two  rows  of 
potatoes,  and  then  two  of  corn,  all  running  to  and  from  the 
yard.  These  avenues,  afforded  by  the  corn,  would  prevent  such 
fatal  results  as  occurred  in  my  case,  by  allowing  the  chicks  to 
return  to  their  yard  with  ease.  The  potatoes  I  consider  very 
important  to  their  growth,  affording  an  abundance  of  insects 
to  feed  on. 

As  to  the  economy  of  this  plan,  I  am  inclined  to  think  that 
a  very  large  number  of  chickens  can  be  raised  in  this  manner 
at  a  cheaper  rate,  and  with  less  mortality,  than  by  the  ordinary 
method.  My  plan,  of  course,  was  only  premature — adopted  on 
the  spur  of  the  occasion.  A  little  study  into  the  wants  of  large 
numbers  of  chickens,  to  render  them  healthy,  will  suggest  to 
the  careful  observer,  all  that  is  wanted  to  render  success  easy 
in  the  raising  of  chickens  by  the  thousand,  or  ten  thousand,  if 
desired. 


COOPS. 

Probably  the  best  style  of  coop  ever  made  for  general  use,  is 
that  represented  in  the  cut.  It  is  old,  but  in  my  opinion,  the 
art  of  man  can  never  improve  on  its  general  good  qualities  for 
a  cheap  coop — one  that  a  boy  can  make  as  well  as  an  architect, 
and  one  that  is  adapted  to  the  use  of  people  in  all  circumstances 
and  conditions  of  life.  All  that  is  to  be  done  to  construct 
them,  is  to  take  two  pieces  of  a  wide  board,  and  nail  them 
together  at  the  top,  in  the  triangular  form  above  shown,  then 
board  up  one  side  tight,  and  put  slats  of  lath  on  the  other  side, 
either  in  a  perpendicular  or  horizontal  position,  and  the  coop  is 
done.  If  the  slats  are  put  on  in  a  perpendicular  position,  you 
will  require  a  cross  strip  of  more  substantial  dimensions,  to  nail 
the  laths  to  at  the  bottom.  The  position  of  coops  of  this  kind 


214  COOP 

should  be  with  their  tight  sides  facing  the  direction  of  the  pre- 
vailing cold  winds  and  storms.  No  bottoms  should  be  attached 
to  such  coops,  but  the  hens  should  be  allowed  to  brood  their 
young  upon  the  bare  ground,  unless  it  be  in  cold  weather,  when 
a  little  hay,  or  other  dry  substance  may  be  provided. 

To  prevent  rats  and  other  nocturnal  depredators  from  gain- 
ing an  entrance,  a  board  should  be  attached  to  the  outside, 
hung  on  hinges,  and  to  be  raised  at  night,  and  buttoned  up ; 
and  to  be  let  down  by  day,  as  a  feeding  board  for  the  young 
chicks  to  take  their  meals  on.  An  easier  way,  is  to  drive  down 
a  small  stake  at  each  corner  of  the  coop,  and  to  slide  the 
board  down  between  the  stakes  and  coop  at  evening,  when  the 
brood  are  all  in,  and  to  raise  it  in  the  morning.  A  board  one 
foot  wide  is  sufficient,  as  the  hen  and  chicks  will  require  all  the 
fresh  air  that  can  be  admitted  in  warm  weather.  Some  people 
make  coops  of  barrels,  by  placing  them  in  a  horizontal  position, 
with  one  end  out,  and  with  stakes  driven  down  in  front,  to 
correspond  with  the  laths  on  the  "  marquee,"  or  tent-shaped 
coop  just  described.  In  such  cases,  the  end  of  the  barrel  in 
which  the  head  is  not  removed,  is  raised  a  few  inches  to  allow 
the  water  that  may  beat  in  during  storms,  to  run  out  at  the 
front.  I  have  used  such  coops,  but  do  not  like  them.  They 
afford  no  opportunity  for  hens  to  wallow  and  scratch  in  the 
dirt,  so  congenial  to  their  nature  and  health,  and  it  often  hap- 
pens that  whole  broods  of  chickens  are  drowned  in  them,  in 
cases  of  severe,  driving  rains,  when  by  any  oversight  the  headed 
end  happens  to  be  a  little  too  low. 

Perhaps,  by  extra  pains  and  expense,  some  other  styles  of 
coops  may  be  made,  equal  in  practical  value  with  that  shown 
in  the  cut,  but  nothing  superior  to  that  style,  can,  in  my 
opinion,  be  constructed,  hence  that  form  is  the  standard  for  the 
whole  world,  as  I  deem  it. 

There  are  many  considerations  pertaining  to  the  care  and 
management  of  young  chickens,  that  cannot  be  fully  dwelt  on 
here,  and  which  must  receive  attention  according  to  circum- 
stances and  the  good  judgment  of  their  owner.  I  will,  how- 
ever, try  to  point  out  those  of  a  most  prominent  nature.  One 
of  these  considerations  is,  the  distance  coops  should  be  set  from 
each  other ;  and  that  will  depend  on  how  many  coops  you  have 
in  use  and  the  entire  space  you  have  to  accommodate  them. 
It  often  happens  that  chicks  are  killed  by  running  into  coops 
in  which  they  belong.  The  breeder  can  guard  against  such  a 


BREEDING.  215 

result,  in  a  good  measure,  by  placing  hens  of  different  colors 
side  by  side,  or  by  increasing  the  distance  between  coops,  till 
no  danger  is  manifest.  ' 

Mr.  P.  Melendy,  President  of  the  Ohio  State  Poultry  Society, 
manages  chickens  as  follows  : 

As  soon  as  they  are  batched,  I  take  them  and  put  them  in  a  house 
that  faces  the  southeast,  with  glass  windows,  so  that  the  sun  shines 
on  them  in  the  morning  on  this  side.  I  have  coops  there  about  four 
feet  square,  with  lattice  fronts.  I  cover  the  floor  with  fine  dry  sand, 
and  a  little  lime.  I  clean  it  out  once  a  week.  I  keep  them  in  these 
coops  till  two  weeks  old ;  I  then  transfer  them  to  my  chicken  yard, 
which  is  adjoining  to  my  chick  house.  I  place  the  hen  in  a  yard  that 
is  tight,  with  the  exception  of  the  front,  which  is  lattice  work,  with 
doors  to  close  at  night  and  stormy  weather.  The  coops  face  the 
south.  My  yard  is  a  fine  grass  plat;  the  grass  is  kept  mown  close. 
I  keep  them  in  this  yard  till  weaned.  I  then  transfer  to  my  large 
yard. 

BREEDIN  G . 

The  fundamental  principle  of  breeding  is,  "  like  produces 
like"  but  still,  this  is  not  an  unerring  one.  For  instance,  we 
may  breed  from  any  pure  stock  of  fowls,  and  occasionally  an 
extra  fine  specimen  will  appear,  and  by  breeding  such  specimens, 
or  pairs,  we  cannot  obtain  their  like  in  all  cases,  but  a  portion  of 
their  progeny  will  conform  to  the  general  characteristics  of  the 
originals.  Indeed,  if  we  obtain  a  single  pair  in  a  whole  season, 
equal  in  size,  &c.,  to  such  extra  pairs,  we  may  consider  ourselves 
fortunate.  This  rule  refers,  of  course,  to  cases  where  such  extra 
fine  fowls  much  exceed  their  parents  in  weight,  model,  &c.  If, 
however,  we  select  the  finest  specimens  produced  by  such  fowls, 
as  breeders,  and  continue,  from  season  to  season,  to  select  the 
best  samples,  we  shall  ultimately  arrive  at  our  desire,  and  obtain 
a  permanent  improvement  on  the  original  stock. 

This  principle  holds  good  in  regard  to  all  animate  nature, 
and  the  fine  extra  large  stock  of  animals  exhibited  at  our  fairs, 
will  not,  on  this  principle,  produce  their  like,  if  they  exceed  in 
size,  model,  &c.,  their  progenitors,  unless,  as  before  stated,  it  be 
a  chance  offspring.  But  we  have  no  other  way  to  improve  our 
stock  of  swine,  cattle,  poultry,  <fec.,  and  if  we  have  a  very  short 
legged  hen,  and  breed  her  with  a  mate  conforming  to  her  as 
nearly  as  possible,  and  continue  to  select  the  shortest  legged 
fowls,  from  season  to  season,  as  breeders,  in  time  we  may  pro- 
duce a  change  of  permanency  in  the  length  of  their  legs,  yet 


216  BREEDING. 

not  a  change  that  in  all  cases  will  produce  short  legs,  as  an 
occasional  fowl  will  appear  with  long  legs,  like  the  original 
progenitors.  The  same  in  regard  to  any  other  feature  in  fowls. 
Indeed,  it  is  asserted  by  one  of  my  correspondents,  in  this  work, 
as  the  reader  may  have  noticed,  that  he  professes  to  be  able  to 
change  a  black  breed  of  ducks,  without  a  white  feather  in  them, 
to  a  pure  -white  breed,  in  process  of  time,  and  vice  versa.  He 
assumes  to  be  able  to  accomplish  this  singular  result  by  select- 
ing such  as  shall  have  an  occasional  white  feather  appear,  for 
breeders,  and  then  by  selecting  from  their  progeny  such  as  show 
a  few  more  white  feathers,  and  so  on  to  the  end.  It  would 
require  many  years  to  accomplish  this,  but  it  can  probably  be 
done,  if  the  originals  are  tinctured  in  the  most  minute  degree 
with  the  blood  of  white  ducks,  so  as  to  cause  them  to  throw 
out  an  occasional  white  feather,  but  not  otherwise.  If,  by  accident 
or  design,  the  most  minute  strain  of  impure  blood  gets  into 
the  veins  of  a  single  fowl  in  the  yard,  and  that  fowl  is  allowed 
to  remain  with  the  stock,  such  impurity  will  tincture  the  entire 
flock  in  time,  and  though  not  visible  to  the  breeder,  yet  in 
subsequent  years  he  will  be  surprised  to  see  an  occasional  fowl 
of  a  color  that  does  not  legitimately  belong  to  the  breed,  which 
is  in  consequence  of  the  contamination  of  his  stock  years  before, 
perhaps.  This  is  technically  called  " crying  lack"  and  it  is  a 
principle  that  is  true  of  man,  as  well  as  animals. 

Some  time  during  the  eighteenth  century,  an  English  gen- 
tleman settled  in  the  East  Indies  and  married  a  native  woman 
of  unusual  light  complexion,  by  whom  he  had  a  son  who  could 
not  be  distinguished  in  features  from  the  people  of  Great 
Britain.  The  wife  died,  and  the  father 'and  son  came  to  Eng- 
land to  reside,  where  the  latter  married  a  lady  of  the  nobility, 
and  now,  at  this  date,  after  several  generations  have  passed 
away,  an  occasional  mulatto  turns  up  in  the  descendants  of  the 
son's  family,  to  the  horror  of  his  or  her  relatives !  Thus  we 
see  how  obstinately  and  tenaciously  a  little  impure  blood  adheres 
to  each  successive  generation  of  all  animate  nature,  and  it 
behooves  the  breeder  of  all  kinds  of  stock  to  beware  how  he 
allows  any  contamination  of  blood  to  tincture  his  animals  or 
fowls,  unless  he  desires  to  cross  them. 

"BREEDING  TO  A  FEATHER." — This  term  applies  to  such  fowls 
as  always  show  the  same  distinctive  colors,  without  any  par- 
ticular variation.  The  white  and  the  speckled  Dorkings,  Guel- 
derlands,  Black  Spanish,  Black  Polands,  White  Shanghaes, 


BREEDING.  217 

Bolton  Greys,  or  Creoles,  Guinea  fowls,  native  Dominique,  and 
some  few  other  breeds,  are  of  this  class.  Any  breed  of  fowls 
that  are  black,  should  show  no  white  feathers,  except  in  the 
case  of  Poland  fowls  that  have  white  crests,  and  others  of  this 
class  ;  the  same  in  regard  to  white  fowls,  No  black  feathers 
should  appear,  if  they  are  strictly  pure. 

A  BREED  NOT  A  VARIETY. — When  we  speak  of  breeds,  we 
mean  pure  blooded  fowls,  and  when  we  speak  of  varieties,  we 
mean  crosses ;  but  this  distinction  is  not  always  made  by  gentle- 
men in  writing  on  fowls,  and  it  is  quite  doubtful  whether  I  have 
been  able  to  adhere  to  this  rule  in  all  cases  in  this  work,  although 
[  have  endeavored  to  do  so.  The  terra  variety  should  never  be 
made  to  signify  pure  stock,  of  any  kind. 

BREEDS  OF  FOWLS  NOT  MADE  BY  CROSSING. — It  has  been 
asserted  by  some  writers  on  poultry,  that  a  pure  breed  may  be 
made  by  crossing,  and  subsequently  breeding  for  some  years 
with  care,  so  as  to  establish  a  distinct  race  of  fowls.  I  deny 
this  in  toto.  Every  breed  of  fowls  now  in  existence,  has  pro- 
bably originated  from  races  created  from  the  beginning  of  the 
world,  or  at  least,  they  possess  distinct  blood,  never  produced 
by  the  art  of  man.  If  a  variety  of  fowls  can  be  produced  by 
careful  cross-breeding,  that  shall  manifest  distinctive  marks,  so 
as  apparently  to  be  a  pure  breed,  they  are  nevertheless  a  variety, 
and  should  be  so  called.  Let  no  man  say  that  he  has  produced, 
a  pure  breed  of  fowls  from  the  mixture  of  blood,  for  it  is  not 
in  his  power  to  do  it,  and  the  many  crosses  that  are  being 
introduced  as  breeds,  under  new  names,  should  receive  the  con- 
demnation of  the  public.  In  this  work,  I  have,  I  believe, 
informed  my  readers  in  every  case  where  I  have  spoken  of' 
crosses,  that  such  fowls  either  were,  or  had  been  alleged  to  be 
such,  and  in  the  absence  of  such  information,  it  may  be  taken 
for  granted,  that  the  fowls  are  pure  breeds.  I  would  observe 
that  all  breeds  do  not  "breed  to  a  feather."  The  Brahma 
Pootras,  buff  and  red  Shanghaes,  <fec.,  throw  out  different 
shades  frequently,  yet  they  may  be  perfectly  pure  in  blood.  So 
it  is  with  some  distinct  breeds  of  cattle,  swine,  &c.  They 
show  different  colors,  while  no  one  disputes  the  purity  of  their 
blood.  It  is  said  that  the  speckled  Dorkings  originated  in  a' 
cross,  though  in  what  particular  cross  is  not  fully  settled,  and 
these  fowls  bear  the  name  of  a  pure  breed ;  and,  indeed,  so 
they  appear  to  be,  but  as  we  have  no  positive  evidence  of  their 
being  originally  produced  by  a  cross,  we  may  safely  call  them 
10 


218  BREEDING. 

a  breed.  It  is  quite  probable  that  some  of  our  fowls  that  are 
now  termed  pure  breeds,  have  some  remote  tincture  of  impure 
blood  in  their  veins — such  fowls  as  do  not  "  breed  to  a  feather  " 
but  in  the  absence  of  any  proof  of  this,  we  cannot  refuse  to 
sanction  their  alleged  purity. 

IN-AND-IN  BREEDING. — This  is  a  branch  of  my  present  subject 
of  great  importance,  yet  the  limits  of  such  a  work  as  this,  do 
not  allow  of  that  elaborate  and  full  exposition  of  many  points 
that  they  ought  in  justice  to  receive.  In  the  first  place,  I  may 
give  as  the  foundation  of  a  great  principle  in  nature,  that  all 
animal  life  deteriorates  by  a  close  consanguinity  of  relationship  ; 
hence,  a  fresh  strain  of  blood  from  time  to  time,  is  absolutely 
necessary ;  but  we  must  not  go  beyond  the  pale  of  the  particu- 
lar species  for  such  change  of  blood.  Fowls  Avill  do  very  well 
bred  in-and-in  for  a  few  years,  but  it  is  not  recommended  to  do 
so  over  four  or  five  years,  when  a  change  should  be  effected  by 
procuring  cocks,  rather  than  pullets,  of  the  same  breed,  but 
from  stock  that  bear  no  relationship  to  your  fowls,  unless  it  be 
very  remote. 

How  TO  PREVENT  A  MIXTURE  OF  BLOOD. — In  a  previous 
allusion  to  this  part  of  my  subject,  I  stated  that  the  eggs  of 
fowls  would  not  be  pure  till  the  second  or  third  litter  is  laid, 
after  the  pullets  are  removed  from  impure  stock,  and  placed 
with  roosters  of  their  respective  breeds.  This  refers  to  cases 
where  actual  breeding  has  taken  place  with  cocks  of  other 
breeds  or  varieties.  Since  writing  the  previous  remarks  here 
alluded  to,  I  have  noticed  that  Dr.  Bennett,  in  one  of  his  letters 
to  me,  corroborates  my  view  of  the  case,  and  desires  me  to 
correct  him  in  this  matter.  He  says : 

"I  am  in  error  on  pages  199  and  200  of  my  boot,  in  relation  to 
breeding.  Please  correct  it  In  order  to  preserve  distinct  breeds,  the 
fowls  must  be  kept  entirely  separate,  over  one  entire  litter  certain,  and 
it  is  better  to  have  them  separate  two  months,  at  least,  before  breeding." 

Dr.  B.  states  in  his  work,  the  "  Poultry  Book,"  that  the 
fowls  will  be  pure  that  are  raised  from  eggs  laid  immediately 
after  separation,  provided  they  are  impregnated  by  a  cock  of 
the  same  breed  as  the  hen,  and  this  is  an  error,  and  what  he 
refers  to  as  wishing  me  to  correct.  Instead  of  the  eggs  being 
pure  in  such  cases,  they  are  tinctured  to  the  third  litter,  more 
or  less,  with  impure  blood  received  from  the  impregnation  of 
eggs  while  previously  running  with  males  of  a  different  breed 
or  variety. 


BREEDING.  219 

CROSS-BREEDING. — In  order  to  obtain  a  fresh  strain  of  blood 
crossing  is  often  resorted  to,  when  the  pure  breeds  are  not  ob- 
tainable, with  fowls  having  no  relation  to  the  fowls  in  which  the 
infusion  of  new  blood  is  required  ;  and,  indeed,  we  often  cross 
fowls  for  the  express  purpose  of  producing  a  distinct  variety. 
Many  breeders  are  of  the  opinion  that  some  of  the  best  fowls 
that  we  have  are  produced  by  judicious  crossing  of  two  valuable 
breeds,  and  I  am  of  the  same  opinion  ;  yet  it  is  not  advisable 
to  cross  fowls,  and  give  theni  a  distinct  name,  but  they  should 
always  bear  the  appellation  of  their  progenitors.  For  instance, 
if  we  cross  a  Shanghae  cock  with  a  Dorking  pullet,  they  should 
always  be  called  a  "  cross  between  the  Shanghae  and  Dorking," 
which  should  be  understood  that  the  largest  breed  in  the  cross 
is  the  cock  selected,  but  when  two  breeds  are  crossed,  of  about 
uniform  size,  it  will  of  course,  not  be  important  from  which 
breed  the  male  is  selected. 

If  we  would  produce  the  same  modeled  and  colored  fowls, 
and  of  the  same  uniform  good  qualities,  we  must  always  use 
the  originals  as  breeders,  because  a  second  cross,  or  the  chicks 
produced  from  eggs  laid  by  the  first  cross,  will  not,  as  a  general 
rule,  be  like  the  parents.  To  illustrate  this  subject  more  fully, 
let  us  suppose  a  case.  We  tal^e  a  black  Shanghae  cock,  and 
a  white  Dorking  pullet,  and  breed  them  together.  Their  young 
may  be  variegated,  perhaps  beautifully  penciled,  but  the  same 
hues  will  not  be  produced  by  breeding  this  cross  together,  but 
a  variety  of  colors  will  be  thrown  out ;  some  will  be  nearly 
black,  like  the  original  cock,  and  some  will  be  quite  light-col- 
ored, like  the  original  hen.  Thus  we  see  that  like  does  not 
produce  like  in  all  cases. 

In  regard  to  the  expediency  and  advantage  of  breeding  from. 
crosses,  I  have  little  to  say.  Sometimes  we  may  thus  breed 
fowls  for  many  years,  and  produce  a  very  choice  variety,  of  all 
hues,  of  course,  yet  good  layers,  and  finely  modeled.  At  other 
times,  if  either  of  the  originals  was  defective  in  model,  health, 
or  laying  qualities,  the  progeny  of  the  cross  will,  more  or  less, 
partake  of  such  defects. 

Crossing  often  produces  larger  and  better  fowls  than  either 
of  the  originals,  and  on  this  account,  many  breeders  cross 
extensively ;  but  we  should  never  allow  a  pure  breed,  that  is 
truly  valuable,  to  become  corrupted.  If  we  cross,  let  it  be 
done  as  an  experiment,  still  retaining  our  pure  breeds  distinct 
and  unmixed ;  and  above  all,  never  take  a  cross  to  our  fairs, 


220  TO    DISTINGUISH    EGGS. 

dubbed   a   new   name,   to  confuse  and  bewilder  tlie  public. 
This  practice  is  becoming  a  nuisance  at  our  poultry  exhibitions. 

TO     DISTINGUISH     EGGS    THAT     PRODUCE     COCKS 
AND      PULLETS. 

I  have  never  made  any  experiments  in  this  matter,  yet  I 
am  informed  by  many  who  have  thus  experimented,  that  they 
have,  as  a  general  rule,  been  able  to  select  eggs  that  will  pro- 
duce cocks,  and  also  those  that  produce  pullets.  The  only 
reason  why  I  have  not  endeavored  to  reduce  this  question  to  a 
"  science,"  is,  probably,  the  lack  of  leisure  time  to  spend  in 
such  things,  however  important  to  the  breeder.  That  such  a 
knowledge  of  selecting  eggs  is  very  important,  no  one  will 
deny,  and  I  regret  that  we  have  no  decisive  rules  for  the 
breeder's  guide,  since  cases  often  occur  of  a  great  disproportion 
of  male  birds,  much  to  the  disadvantage  of  the  fowl  raiser.  A. 
T.  Newbold,  Esq.,  of  Philadelphia,  writes  me  in  reference  to 
this  subject,  as  follows  : 

Any  one  with  a  little  care,  may  know  the  eggs  that  will  produce 
cocks,  and  those  that  will  produce  pullets.  The  cock,  or  male  egg, 
has  a  quirl  on  one  end,  thus :  [Here  he  draws  diagrams  of  the  shape 
of  these  quirls,  that  look  like  the  signs  for  quantity  in  a  physician's 
prescription. — AUTHOR.]  The  ends  of  eggs  that  produce  pullets,  are 
smooth.  I  have  selected  two  hundred  eggs  on  this  plan,  from  which 
but  one  pullet  was  hatched,  all  the  rest  being  cocks,  and  I  think  that 
the  egg  that  produced  the  pullet  was  laid  in  the  nest  after  I  had  made 
the  selection,  and  set  the  eggs.  Again,  I  have  selected  eggs  that  pro- 
duced fifty  pullets,  without  a  single  cock,  and  this  I  consider  proof 
positive. 

This  appears  to  settle  the  case,  truly;  and  I  hope  that 
breeders  will  experiment  till  all  doubts  shall  be  removed  as  to 
the  way  of  distinguishing  the  cock  and  pullet  eggs.  At 
present,  I  fear  that  few  will  have  as  good  success  as  Mr.  New- 
bold  had. 

TO     DISTINGUISH     EGGS    THAT    ARE     IMPREGNATED. 

A  correspondent  of  the  Northern  Farmer  says  that  he  can 
always  tell  when  an  egg  will  hatch,  and  when  not.  He  says : 

All  those  having  setting  hens  would  do  well  to  take  notice  of  the 
following  remarks,  and  they  will  have  a  chicken  for  every  egg  they 
set.  Take  eggs  not  more  than  three  or  four  days  old,  and  have  a 
candle  or  lamp,  hold  the  egg  in  one  hand,  with  the  broad  end  upwards, 
close  to  the  caudle,  place  the  other  hand  on  the  top  of  the  egg,  and 


FOWLS    KEPT    IN    LARGE    NUMBERS.  221 

you  will  immediately  perceive  the  incubation  end.  Some  people  can 
tell  a  pullet  from  a  rooster.  The  mark  for  a  rooster  is  crosswise,  and 
a  pullet  lengthwise.  Another  way  is  to  place  your  tongue  on  the 
large  end  of  the  egg,  and  you  will  perceive  a  strong  heat,  if  fresh  and 
good,  and  the  less  heat  if  old  and  doubtful.  Eggs  put  by  for  hatching 
should  never  be  put  in  a  very  damp  cellar,  as  the  dampness  destroys 
this  heat. 


FOWLS      KEPT      IN      LARGE      NUMBERS. 

The  question  "  can  fowls  be  made  profitable  when  kept  in 
large  numbers?"  is  still  unsettled.  Several  gentlemen  are  now 
engaged  in  keeping  fowls  extensively,  in  various  parts  of  the 
country,  but  nothing  definite  as  to  net  profits  has  transpired,  so 
as  to  enable  me  to  enlighten  the  public  in  the  premises.  I  now 
refer  to  keeping  fowls  extensively  for  market,  and  for  their  eggs, 
when  their  value  is  at  ordinary  rates.  We  all  know  that  fowls 
at  $5  to  $20  a  pair,  and  eggs  at  $1  50  to  $6  a  dozen,  must  be 
profitable,  so  long  as  such  prices  continue ;  but  we  want  to 
know  whether  one  can  keep  500  to  5000  fowls  of  any  breed  to 
advantage,  and  sell  them  at  the  ordinary  rates  of  fifty  to  sixty 
cents  a  pair,  dressed,  and  eggs  at  ten  to  twelve  cents  a  dozen. 

There  are  several  drawbacks  to  success  in  such  a  business, 
and  one  of  the  most  disadvantage,  is  the  liability  all  large 
numbers  of  fowls  have  to  contract  contagious  diseases.  A  gen- 
tleman, some  few  years  ago,  erected  a  "henery"  on  Long 
Island,  near  New  York,  to  accommodate  1000  fowls,  and  he 
purchased  that  number,  and  placed  tfyem  therein,  and  constructed 
all  necessary  conveniences,  but  in  less  than  a  year  he  lost  some 
$200  by  the  operation,  besides  his  investment  in  fixtures,  &c., 
and  he  abandoned  the  business. 

It  has  been  fully  shown,  that  a  large  number  of  fowls  in  one 
enclosure,  can  never  be  made  as  productive,  in  the  ratio  of 
numbers,  as  a  small  number,  and  here  lies  the  great  barrier  to 
success.  If,  however,  we  should  enclose  a  very  large  field,  and 
erect  a  number  of  separate  buildings,  and  so  arrange  matters 
that  the  fowls  would  always  have  an  abundance  of  room  in 
their  rambles,  and  on  their  perches,  being  well  ventilated,  &c., 
I  am  of  the  opinion  that  they  may  be  made  profitable,  if  a 
proper  economy  is  manifested  in  providing  their  food,  which 
should  all  be  raised  by  the  breeder ;  and  large  quantities  of 
root  crops  should  be  grown,  to  boil  and  mix  with  meal,  to  be 
fed  at  certain  seasons.  A  stream  of  water  should  run  through 


222  LIME    FOR   FOWLS. 

the  premises,  and  every  thing  should  be  kept  purified  with  lime, 
ashes,  &c.,  that  would  be  liable  to  become  infested  with  vermin. 
A  hospital  should  be  provided,  to  which  diseased  fowls 
should  be  promptly  removed,  on  the  first  symptoms  of  disease 
becoming  apparent.  With  such  management,  or  somewhat 
similar  to  it,  I  believe  that  large  numbers  of  fowls  may  be  kept 
to  advantage. 

NUMBER     OF    EGGS    LAID     BY    A     HEN     IN     A     YEAR. 

Our  common  breeds  usually  lay  from  eighty  to  one  hundred 
eggs  in  a  year,  as  an  average  of  what  a  flock  of  twenty  to  fifty 
will  produce.  We  often  see  notices  in  the  papers  of  instances 
where  much  larger  numbers  are  laid,  but  such  cases  are  exceptions 
to  the  general  rule,  so  far  as  our  native  varieties  are  concerned. 
Some  of  the  Asiatic  breeds  have  been  known  to  lay  two  hun- 
dred or  more  eggs,  in  a  year,  and  it  is  a  settled  point,  that  some 
of  our  imported  fowls  do  much  exceed,  in  the  number  of  eggs 
laid,  any  of  our  native  tribes. 

Some  people  take  pains  to  force  their  fowls,  by  artificial  heat, 
to  lay  in  the  winter  season,  at  the  expense  of  barrenness  in  the 
spring,  to  a  certain  extent.  I  am  inclined  to  believe  that 
we  had  better  let  nature  take  her  course,  and  be  satisfied  with 
what  eggs  our  hens  will  lay,  without  artificial  heat ;  but  I 
recommend  warm  winter  quarters,  however,  but  not  to  be 
heated  above  the  ordinary  temperature  of  the  atmosphere  in 
well  protected  buildings,  such  as  are  partially  under  ground,  or 
have  double  walls  in  cold  climates,  or  are  filled  in  between  the 
studding  with  sawdust  or  tan-bark,  if  not  plastered. 

L  IME     FOR      FOWLS. 

Lime  is  quite  necessary  for  fowls,  as  most  people  are  aware. 
The  following  selections  are  of  interest : 

All  domestic  fowls,  as  well  as  other  animals,  require  more  or  less 
lime.  It  is  the  chief  constituent  of  their  bones,  and  probably  useful 
in  many  cases,  in  small  quantities,  as  a  condiment.  In  addition  to 
these  purposes,  fowls  which  Lay  eggs  require  lime  for  the  formation 
of  the  egg-shells.  Ordinarily,  fowls  which  have  their  liberty  can 
procure  sufficient  lime  to  satisfy  their  wants.  It  is  contained  in  the 
grain  on  which  they  feed,  and  in  the  stones  and  earth  which  they 
swallow. 

But  in  winter,  when  fowls  have  less  access  to  the  ground,  or  when 
they  are  confined  in  small  enclosures,  they  have  less  opportunity  to 


VALUE    OF    PEPPERS   TO    FOWLS.  223 

select  the  mineral  substances  which  they  require.  Hence  an  artificial 
supply  becomes  necessary.  How  shall  this  be  given?  By  placing 
the  articles  within  their  reach,  so  that  they  may  take,  voluntarily, 
just  the  quantity  to  which  they  are  prompted  by  nature.  Place 
slacked  lime,  broken  into  pieces  the  size  of  peas,  on  shelves,  where 
the  fowls  can  readily  pick  it  up.  By  slacking  lime  in  a  vessel,  in 
considerable  water,  so  that  it  will  form  a  paste,  and  letting  it  dry,  it 
can  readily  be  pounded  into  the  desired  form,  to  suit  the  fowls  best. 
— Ex. 

During  the  last  season,  Mr.  Joseph  Wilcox,  of  this  town,  having 
occasion  to  administer  lime  watev  to  a  sick  horse,  inadvertently  left  a 
pail  of  the  preparation  in  his  barn,  which  remained  there  for  some 
months,  serving  as  a  favorite  drink  for  his  hens.  He  soon  afterwards 
found  that  the  laying  of  his  hens  was  apparently  increased  to  a  con- 
siderable extent.  Being  convinced  of  the  importance  of  the  (to  him) 
new  discovery,  he  has,  during  the  present  season,  kept  his  hens  con- 
stantly supplied  with  lime  water,  placed  in  troughs  within  their  con- 
venient access,  and  the  result  was  an  increase  in  eggs  of  nearly  four 
fold,  as  compared  with  previous  experience. 

He  'is  willing  to  share  the  benefit  of  the  experiment  with  hia 
neighbors,  if  they  choose  to  try  it,  and  hence  this  publication.  The 
newness  of  the  discovery,  (though  it  may  not  now  be  new  to  all,)  is 
claimed  only  as  applicable  to  the  mode  of  imparting  the  lime  in  this 
case  ;  its  use  in  another  form  for  the  same  purpose,  having  been  pre- 
viously understood  by  many. —  Wayne  Sentinel. 

There  is  no  evidence  that  the  lime  caused  the  hens  to  lay,  in 
the  above  case.  I  think  that  lime  furnished  in  old  mortar  is 
sufficient,  taken  from  walls  that  are  being  removed. 


VALUE   OF  RED   PEPPERS  TO   POULTRY. 

The  value  of  red  peppers  in  the  food  of  poultry,  occasionally, 
does  not  admit  of  a  doubt.  The  following  is  clipped  from  one 
of  the  journals  of  the  day : 

I  do  a  small  business  in  raising  and  putting  up  garden  seeds.  One 
year  ago  last  fall,  as  I  was  clearing  out  some  red  pepper  seeds  in  my 
back  yard,  I  threw  the  shucks  and  chaff  promiscuously  about.  I 
soon  observed  my  hens  picking  them  up  and  swallowing  them  with 
great  avidity.  They  soon  commenced  laying  eggs,  though  they  had 
laid  none  for  a  month.  I  fed  them  regularly  two  or  three  times  a 
week,  since  then,  with  red  pepper,  and  they  have  never  stopped 
laying,  summer  or  winter,  spring  or  fall,  except  while  they  were 
hatching 'their  chickens ;  and  I  am  confident,  from  more  than  a  year's 
experience,  that  by  this  method,  hens  may  be  made  to  lay  the  year 
round. 


224          .  POULTRY    MANURE. 

SALT      INJURIOUS     TO      FOWLS. 

Salt  will  speedily  kill  fowls  if  thrown  out  in  large  quantities, 
such  as  the  emptying  of  meat  or  fish  barrels  in  their  way. 

Salt  fish  is  equally  destructive,  and  should  never  be  thrown 
where  they  can  get  it. 

POULTRY  MANURE ITS  VALUE,   ETC. 

The  most  valuable  fertilizer  that  we  have,  is  poultry  manure. 
Read  the  following,  and  profit  by  it : 

POULTRY  MANURE. — This  is  the  most  valuable  of  the  farm  manures, 
and  is  entitled  to  great  care  in  its  collection  and  use.  Beyond  the 
amount  of  water  it  contains,  it  is  as  valuable  as  guano,  and  therefore 
should  never  be  sold  by  practical  farmers  to  morocco  dressers,  at 
twenty-five  cents  per  bushel.  The  poultry-house  should  be  underlaid 
with  charcoal  dust,  when  it  can  be  procured,  so  as  to  receive  the  hen 
manure  as  fast  as  made.  The  surface  of  this  charcoal  dust  should 
occasionally  be  raked  or  removed  off  to  one  corner,  with  a  portion  of 
the  dung.  This  may  be  continued  until  the  mamire  is  required  for 
use,  when  it  should  be  thoroughly  mixed  with  ten  times  its  bulk  of 
soil,  before  being  applied  to  crops.  "Where  charcoal  dust  cannot  be 
procured,  well  decomposed  swamp  muck,  plaster  of  Paris,  or  even 
aluminous  clay,  may  be  frequently  dusted  over  the  floor  of  the  poultry 
house,  to  be  mixed  with  this  manure.  The  object  of  all  this  is  to 
receive  and  retain  the  ammonia>  so  as  to  prevent  its  liberation  from 
injuring  the  health  of  the  inmates  of  the  poultry  house.  All  animals, 
man  included,  suffer  from  breathing  the  effluvia  arising  from  their 
excretia,  and  this  is  particularly  true  of  the  feathered  tribes.  Their 
natural  habits  in  the  wild  state,  cause  them  to  pass  through  the  upper 
strata  of  the  atmosphere,  and  with  such  velocity  as  to  readily  rid 
themselves  of  the  noxious  gasos  given  off  the  surface  of  their  bodies, 
and  to  be  entirely  beyond  any  deleterious  influence  from  the  fumes  of 
their  excretia.  We  should,  therefore,  in  the  poultry-houses,  make 
such  arrangements  as  will  prevent  the  poultry  from  inhaling  these 
deleterious  gases. — Prof.  Mapes, 

VALUE  OF  POULTRY  MAXURE. — It  is  lamentable,  and  disgusting  even, 
to  see  what  a  waste  is  going  on  in  this  country  of  the  richest  and  most 
valuable  manure  ever  known.  We  are  importing  shipload  after  ship- 
load of  guano,  (sea-bird  manure,)  while  hundreds  of  tons  of  poultry 
manure  which  is  asserted  to  be  equal  in  value — is  suffered  to  go  to 
waste  in  the  United  States.  Each  farmer's  poultry  yard  produces  so 
little,  that  it  is  suffered  to  go  to  waste,  and  thus  the  country  loses  over 
a  million  dollars  annually. 

Having  learned  the  value  of  poultry  manure,  we  suppose  now  our 
readers  would  like  to  know  what  is  the  best  method  to  save  it. 

First,  build  a  poultry  house,  if  it  be  no  more  than  a  rough  scaffold- 
ing of  poles  or  slabs,  laid  upon  crotches,  forming  a  double  pitch  roo^ 


POULTRY    MANURE.  225 

with  end  boards  in  winter,  to  keep  out  the  wind  and  driving  storms. 
Under  this,  place  parallel  roosts,  and  the  manure  in  the  night  will  all 
drop  down  into  a  narrow  row  beneath.  Here  place  a  light  loam 
about  a  foot  deep,  rather  wider  and  longer  than  the  roost,  and  give  it 
a  sprinkling  of  plaster  of  Paris  an  inch  thick.  When  this  is  covered 
with  manure  an  inch  deep,  give  it  a  layer  of  loam  four  inches  deep, 
and  another  sprinkling  of  an  inch  of  plaster,  and  so  continue.  In  the 
spring,  mix  all  well  together,  keep  it  free  from  the  rain,  and  use  it  at 
the  rate  of  one  pint  to  a  hill  of  corn,  or  a  corresponding  quantity  for 
cucumbers,  squashes,  pumpkins,  melons,  peas,  onions,  strawberries,  or 
any  other  fruit,  vegetable,  or  grain,  requiring  rich  manure,  and  our 
word  for  it,  you  will  have  a  crop  of  a  superior  quality.  Thus  you 
will  become  one  out  of  the  many,  who  is  desirous  to  benefit  himself, 
and  assist  in  saving  more  than  a  million  of  dollars  annually  to  the 
country. — Ainericwn,  Agriculturalist. 

Mr.  Moses  considers  the  manure  of  his  fowls  of  much  importance, 
and  takes  care  that  it  is  all  saved  and  applied  to  his  crops.  Under 
the  building  in  which  the  fowls  roost,  is  a  cellar,  into  which  all  the 
manure  is  put  In  spring,  a  few  weeks  before  planting  time,  the 
manure  is  worked  over,  and  mixed  with  plaster — sometimes  with 
plaster  and  ashes  in  equal  proportions — using  enough  of  these  articles 
to  make  the  manure  so  dry  as  to  pulverize  thoroughly. 

This  domestic  guano,  of  which  Mr.  M.  sometimes  has  the  quantity 
of  three  hundred  bushels  in  a  season,  produces  a  powerful  effect  on, 
the  growth  of  Indian  corn.  His  mode  of  applying  it  is  to  drop  a 
handful  in  each  hill,  which  is  then  covered  half  an  inch  or  more  with 
earth,  in  order  to  prevent  the  seed  from  coming  in  immediate  contact 
with  the  manure,  which  experience  has  shown  would  prevent  its  ger- 
mination. Mr.  M.  stated  that  he  had  tried  this  compost  in  comparison 
with  good  hog  manure,  by  applving  each  to  corn  in  the  same  field  and 
on  similar  soil.  On  one  part,  half  a  sbovel  full  of  hog  manure  was 
put  in  a  hill,  and  on  the  other  part,  a  handful  of  the  hen  manure 
compost.  The  crop  was  best  where  the  latter  was  used,  and  the 
succeeding  crop,  (which  was  oats,)  showed  the  same  result  in  favor  of 
the  hen  manure. 

On  another  occasion,  he  manured  ten  acres  with  the  hen  manure, 
which  produced  sixty  bushels  of  corn  to  the  acre.  On  a  part  of  this 
piece,  he  used  the  manure  only  on  alternate  rows,  leaving  the  inter- 
mediate rows  with  no  application.  The  ears  were  "  mere  nubbins  " 
on  the  rows  that  had  no  manure.  He  planted  pumpkins  on  a  row 
that  had  no  manure,  and  on  another  row  that  had  the  proportion 
given  to  the  rest  of  the  field.  The  row  which  had  no  manure,  pro- 
duced no  pumpkins  of  any  value ;  the  other  produced  fifty-one  fair 
sized,  good  pumpkins. 

Mr.  M.  stated  that  his  son  was  engaged  with  another  person  in  the 
poultry  trade,  and  that  in  the  winter  of  1849-50  they  sent  between 
twenty  and  thirty  tons  to  Xew  York  and  Boston. — Selected. 
10* 


226  CAPONIZING    FOWLS. 

CATOJTIZING      FOWLS. 

The  art  of  caponizing  was  practiced  many  centuries  ago  by 
the  ancients,  and  it  is  now  practiced  to  some  extent  in  all 
countries.  The  French  seem  to  be  the  most  expert  in  the  bus- 
iness. Richardson  says : 

The  practice  of  the  French  country  women  is  to  select  the  close  of 
the  spring,  or  the  beginning  of  autumn,  as  well  as  fine  weather,  for 
the  performance  of  their  work.  The  parts  necessary  to  be  removed, 
being  fixed  in  the  abdomen,  and  attached  to  the  spine  at  the  region 
of  the  loins,  it  is  absolutely  necessary  to  open  the  abdominal  cavity  for 
the  purpose  of  their  extraction.  The  bird  should  be  healthy,  fasting, 
and  about  three  months  old.  lie  is  then  to  be  secured  by  an  assistant, 
upon  his  back,  his  belly  upwards,  and  his  head  down,  that  the  intes- 
tines, <fcc.,  may  fall  up  toward  the  breast ;  the  tail  is  to  be  towards 
the  operator.  The  right  leg  is  then  carried  along  the  body,  and  the 
left  brought  backwards,  and  held  in  this  position,  so  as  to  leave  the 
left  flank  perfectly  bare,  for  it  is  there  that  the  incision  is  to  be  made. 
The  said  incision  is  to  be  directed  from  before  backwards,  transversely 
to  the  length  of  the  body,  at  the  middle  of  the  flank,  and  slightly  to 
the  side,  between  the  ends  of  the  breast-bone  and  the  vent.  Having 
plucked  away  the  feathers  from  the  space  where  it  is  intended  to 
make  the  incision,  you  take  a  bistoury  or  a  razor,  and  cut  through 
the  skin,  abdominal  muscles,  and  peritoneum ;  it  is  better  to  do  this 
at  two  or  more  cuts,  in  order  to  avoid  the  possibility  of  wounding  the 
intestines — a  casualty  that  would,  in  most  cases,  be  attended  with 
fatal  results.  The  intestines  present  themselves  at  the  orifice,  but  you 
must  not  suffer  them  to  come  out;  on  the  contrary,  you  press 
them  gently  aside,  so  as  to  have  room  for  action.  I  may  observe,  that 
the  incision  should  have  been  sufficiently  large  to  admit  of  the  fore- 
finger, previously  well  oiled,  being  passed  into  the  abdomen,  and 
carried  carefully  towards  the  lumbar  region  of  the  spine;  you  will 
there  find  what  you  are  in  search  of.  You  first  reach  the  left  substance, 
which  you  detach  with  your  nail,  or  with  your  finger  bent  hook- 
fashion  ;  you  then  arrive  at  the  right,  which  you  treat  similarly ; 
bring  both  substances  forth ;  you  finally  return  the  intestines,  sow 
up  the  wound  with  a  silk  thread — a  very  few  stitches  will  suffice — and 
smear  the  place  with  a  little  fresh  butter.  Some  persons  recommend 
the  amputation  of  the  comb,  close  to  the  skull  of  the  newly  made  capon ; 
but  this  is  surely  an  unnecessary  piece  of  torture — a  useless  addition 
to  the  sufferings  of  the  poor  bird.  The  proposed  object  of  this 
amputation  is  to  insure  the  recognition  of  the  capon  amongst  his 
co-mates  of  the  poultry-yard.  Were  such  a  distinctive  mark  neces- 
sary, it  strikes  us  that  the  operation  must  have  been,  so  to  speak, 
thrown  away ;  inasmuch  as  the  superior  size  and  bulk  of  the  capon 
should,  of  themselves,  be  sufficiently  indicative  of  his  identity ;  but 
independent  of  these,  I  may  observe  that  the  comb  of  the  capon  does 
not  grow  to  any  size,  and  always  retains  a  pallid  color.  Should 
it  be  proposed  to  caponize  cocks  belonging  to  varieties  not  natu- 


CAPONIZING    FOWLS.  227 

rally  possessing  combs,  it  will  surely  be,  found,  at  the  very  most, 
sufficient  to  cut  the  tail  feathers  down  to  a  stump.  In  some  parts  of 
the  continent,  the  caponizers  resort  to  still  more  unnecessary  brutality. 
They  cut  off  the  spurs  of  the  poor  caponized  bird,  and  making  an 
incision  in  its  comb,  as  it  were  plant  them  in  it ;  they  are  so  held  for 
about  twenty  minutes — in  short,  just  until  the  blood  coagulates ;  they 
then  become  not  merely  permanently  adherent,  but  actually  grow. 
The  less,  however,  said  about  these  very,  and  needlessly  inhuman 
practices,  the  better. 

To  return  to  our  more  immediate  subject:  The  process  having  been 
performed  as  above  described,  the  bird  is  placed  in  a  warm  house, 
where  there  are  no  perches,  as,  if  such  appliances  were  present,  the 
newly-made  capon  might  very  probably  injure  himself  in  his  attempts 
to  perch,  and  perhaps  even  tear  open  the  sutures,  and  possibly  occasion 
the  operation,  usually  simple  and  free  from  danger,  to  terminate 
fatally.  For  about  a  week,  the  food  of  the  bird  should  be  soft  oat- 
meal porridge,  and  that  in  small  quantities,  alternated  with  bread 
steeped  in  milk  ;  he  may  be  given  as  much  pure  water  as  he  will  drink, 
but  I  recommend  that 'it  be  tepid,  or  at  least,  that  the  chill  be  taken 
off  it.  At  the  end  of  a  week,  or,  at  the  farthest,  ten  days,  the  bird, 
if  he  has  been  previously  of  a  sound,  vigorous  constitution,  will  be 
all  right,  and  may  be  turned  out  into  the  walk  common  to  all  your 
fowls. 

CHINESE  MODE  OF  MAKING  CAPONS. — The  Chinese,  who  are  very 
expert  in  the  art  of  making  capons,  use  the  following  method :  The 
wings  of  the  fowl  being  folded  back  till  they  meet,  the  left  foot  of  the 
operator  is  placed  on  them,  the  fowl  being  laid  on  its  left  side.  The 
great  toe  of  the  right  foot  is  placed  on  its  legs ;  the  feathers  are  then 
plucked  off  by  the  side ;  an  incision,  about  an  inch  in  length,  com- 
mencing about  an  inch  from  the  back-bone,  and  extending  obliquely 
downwards,  is  made  with  a  knife,  the  cutting  part  of  which  is  beveled 
to  a  point,  like  a  dissecting  scalpel.  This  incision  is  carefully  carried 
through  the  skin,  muscles,  and  membranes,  till  the  intestines  are  laid 
bare,  while  flat,  blunt  hooks,  are  put  into  the  incision,  which  is 
extended  and  kept  open  by  the  elasticity  of  a  bamboo  or  whale-bone  ; 
the  intestines  are  then  pushed  aside  with  a  pair  of  forceps,  which  are  , 
used  to  lay  hold  of  the  stone,  when  it  is  by  this  means  brought  into 
view,  while  there  is  passed  over  it,  through  a  bamboo  or  elder  tube,  a 
horse-hair,  which  is  drawn  backwards  and  forwards  through  the  tube 
till  the  spermatic  chord  is  cut  through ;  the  stone  is  then  scooped  out. 
The  other  stone  is  removed  in  the  same  manner.  No  blood  issues 
from  the  spermatic  chords,  nor  does  the  animal  appear  to  feel  pain. 
The  hooks  are  then  removed,  the  wound  is  closed  up,  the  feathers 
which  have  been  plucked  off  are  stuck  upon  the  wound  with  the 
blood,  and  the  wing  being  put  down  on  it,  the  animal  walks  off  as  if 
nothing  had  happened.  Young  cocks,  three  months  old,  are  made 
choice  of  for  the  operation,  which  must,  if  possible,  be  performed 
before  July,  as  it  has  been  remarked  that  capons  made  later  than  this, 
never  prove  fine. — Dickson. 


228  DISEASES    OF    FOWLS. 

DISEASES      OF      FOWLS. 

The  diseases  of  poultry  are  less  understood  than  those  of 
any  other  living  thing  of  equal  service  to  man  ;  but  the  subject 
is  now  of  great  importance,  for  the  reason  that  we  would  as 
soon  lose  a  cow,  in  many  instances,  as  a  fowl.  This  is  no 
fancy  sketch.  I  was  offered  fifteen  dollars  recently,  by  a  gen- 
tleman, for  one  of  my  Brahma  pullets,  and  I  refused  to  sell  her. 
The  next  day  she  died  of  a  disease  common  to  fowls  in  the 
laying  season.  She  was  "  egg-bound"  as  it  is  called.  The  egg 
could  not  be  discharged,,  owing,  apparently,  to  its  having  got 
out  of  its  proper  position  in  some  way.  It  was  of  the  ordinary 
size,  and  I  tried  to  use  artificial  means  to  relieve  her,  but  with- 
out effect.  There  was  a  membrane,  or  bag  that  enclosed  it, 
which  admitted  of  no  egress,  and  the  hen  lingered  about  twenty 
hours,  and  then  died. 

I  will  now  quote  the  best  authorities  on  the  most  common 
diseases  to  which  fowls  of  mature  age  are  subject : 

INDIGESTION. — Cases  of  indigestion  among  fowls  are  common,  and 
deserve  attention  according  to  the  causes  from  which  they  proceed. 
A  change  of  food  will  often  produce  crop-sickness,  as  it  is.called,  when 
the  fowl  takes  but  little  food,  and  suddenly  loses  flesh.  Such  disease 
is  of  little  consequence,  and  shortly  disappears.  "When  it  requires 
attention  at  all,  all  the  symptoms  will  be  removed  by  giving  their 
diet  in  a  warm  state.  Sometimes,  however,  a  fit  of  indigestion 
threatens  severe  consequences,  especially  if  long  continued.  Every 
effort  should  be  made  to  ascertain  the  cause,  and  the  remedy  must  be 
governed  by  the  circumstances  of  the  case.  Mowbray  mentions  a 
hen  manifesting  all  the  symptoms  of  indigestion,  in  whose  crop  beans 
were  found,  which  had  obstructed  it  long  enough  to  present  marks  of 
vegetation.  An  incision  was  made,  the  wound  healed,  and  health 
was  restored.  Generally,  affections  of  this  kind,  as  in  the  human 
species,  proceed  from  over-feeding  or  want  of  exercise.  The  symptoms 
are,  heaviness,  mooing,  keeping  away  from  the  nest,  and  want  of 
appetite. 

Remedy. — Lessen  the  quantity  of  food,  and  oblige  the  fowl  to  exercise 
in  an  open  walk.  Give  some  powdered  cayenne  and  gentian,  mixed 
with  the  usual  food.  Iron-rust,  mixed  with  soft  food,  or  diffused  in 
water,  is  an  excellent  tonic,  and  is  indicated  when  there  is  atrophy 
or  diminution  of  flesh.  It  may  be  combined  with  oats  or  grain.  In 
England,  it  is  said  that  milk-warm  ale  has  a  good  effect  when  joined 
to  the  diet  of  diseased  fowls. — Dr.  Bennett. 

COSTIVENESS. — The  existence  of  this  disorder  will  become  apparent 
by  observing  the  unsuccessful  attempts  of  the  fowl  to  relieve  itself. 
It  frequently  proceeds  from  continued  feeding  of  dry  diet,  without 
access  to  green  vegetables.  Indeed,  without  the  use  of  these,  or  some 


DISEASES   OF   FOWLS.  229 

such  substitute,  as  mashed  potatoes,  costiveness  is  certain  to  ensue. 
The  want  of  a  sufficient  supply  of  good  water,  will  also  produce  the 
disease. 

Remedy. — Soaked  bread,  with  warm  skimmed  milk,  is  a  mild  remedial 
agent,  and  will  usually  suffice.  Boiled  carrots,  or  cabbage,  are  more 
efficient.  A  meal  of  earth-worms  is  sometimes  advisable,  and  hot 
potatoes,  mixed  with  bacon-fat,  are  said  to  be  excellent.  Castor  oil 
and  burned  butter,  will  relieve  the  most  obstinate  cases,  though  a 
clyster  of  oil  may  be  sometimes  required  in  addition,  to  effect  a  cure. 
— Ib. 

DIAKRHKA. — There  are  times  when  fowls  dung  more  loosely  than  at 
others,  especially  when  they  have  been  fed  on  green  or  soft  food ;  but 
this  may  occur  without  the  presence  of  disease.  But  should  this  state 
deteriorate  into  a  confirmed  and  continued  laxity,  immediate  attention 
is  required,  to  guard  against  fatal  effects.  The  causes  of  diarrhea  are 
dampness,  undue  acidity  in  the  bowels,  or  the  presence  or  irritating 
matter  there. 

The  symptoms  are,  lassitude  and  emaciation,  and,  in  very  severe 
cases,  the  voiding  of  calcareous  matter,  white,  streaked  with  yellow. 
This  resembles  the  yolk  of  a  stale  egg,  and  sticks  to  the  feathers  near 
the  vent.  It  becomes  acrid,  from  the  presence  of  ammonia,  and  causes 
inflammation,  which  extends  speedily  throughout  the  intestines. 

Remedy. — This,  of  course,  depends  upon  the  cause.  "When  the 
disease  is  brought  on  by  a  diet  of  green  or  soft  food,  the  food  must  be 
changed,  and  water  given  sparingly.  When  it  arises  from  undue 
acidity,  chalk  mixed  with  meal,  is  advantageous,  but  rice  flour  boluses 
are  most  to  be  depended  on.  Dr.  Handel,  of  Mayence,  in  cases  of 
chronic  looseness,  recommends  water  impregnated  with  iron  rust,  with 
great  confidence.  Alum-water  of  moderate  strength,  is  also  beneficial. 

In  oases  of  bloody  flux,  boiled  rice  and  milk,  given  warm,  with  a 
little  magnesia  ov  chalk,  may  be  given  with  success. — Ib. 

ASTHMA. — This  disease,  common  among  fowls,  seems  to  differ  in 
characteristics  sufficiently  to  authorize  a  distinction  into  two  species. 
In  one  it  appears  to  be  caused  by  an  obstruction  of  the  air-cells,  by 
an  •  accumulation  of  phlegm,  which  interferes  with  the  exercise  of 
their  functions.  The  fowl  labors  for  breath,  in  consequence  of  not 
being  able  to  take  in  the  usual  quantity  of  air  at  an  inspiration.  The 
capacity  of  the  lungs  is  thereby  diminished,  the  lining  membrane  of 
the  windpipe  becomes  thickened,  and  its  minute  branches  are  more  op 
less  affected.  These  effects  may  reasonably  be  attributed,  as  Richard- 
son thinks,  to  the  fact,  that,  as  our  poultry  are  originally  natives  of 
tropical  climates,  however  well  they  may  appear  acclimated,  they, 
nevertheless  require  a  more  equable  temperature  uthan  is  afforded, 
except  by  artificial  means. 

Another  variety  of  asthma  is  induced  by  fright,  or  over  excitement. 
It  is  sometimes  produced  by  chasing  fowls  to  catch  them,  by  seizing 
them  suddenly,  or  by  their  fighting  with  each  other.  In  these  cases, 
a  blood  vessel  is  often  ruptured,  and  sometimes  one  or  more  of  the 
air-cells. 

The  symptoms  are  short  breathing,  opening  of  the  beak  often,  and 


230  DISEASES    OP    FOWLS. 

for  a  space  together,  heaving  and  panting  of  the  chest ;  and  in  case 
of  a  rupture  of  a  blood-vessel,  a  drop  of  blood  appearing  on  the  beak. 

Remedy. — Confirmed  asthma  is  difficult  to  cure.  For  the  disease  in 
its  incipient  state,  it  is  recommended  that  the  fowl  be  kept  warm, 
and  be  treated  with  repeated  doses  of  hippo-powder  and  sulphur 
mixed  with  butter,  with  the  addition  of  a  small  quantity  of  cayenne 
pepper. — Ib. 

MOULTING. — Although  it  cannot  be  properly  denominated  a  disease, 
still  some  attention  is  necessary  in  giving  care  to  your  poultry  during 
that  period,  particularly  if  it  advances  into  the  cold  or  damp  season, 
so  as  to  have  them  warmly  and  dryly  kept,  and  well  fed  with  stimu- 
lating food — hemp  seed,  sunflower  seed,  caraway  seed,  and  a  small 
quantity  of  black  or  red  pepper ;  the  more  warmly  or  comfortably 
kept,  the  quicker  the  moult.  Old  fowls  moult  late,  and  consequently 
do  not  lay  till  advanced  in  the  summer  ;  while  early  pullets  will  moult 
early,  and  lay  all  the  winter,  if  warmly  kept  and  well  fed.  Fowls 
occasionally  make  the  appearance  of  losing  their  feathers  before  the 
actual  moult,  and  appear  miserably  naked.  The  remedy  is,  keep 
them  comfortable,  and  when  the  moult  comes  on,  their  proper  clothing 
will  be  resumed  in  their  new  coat.  A  want  of  feathers  is  sometimes 
effected  by  the  fowls  picking  the  young  or  bleeding  feathers  from  their 
fellows,  which  they  get  so  much  attached  to,  that  they  continue  to 
pilfer  each  succeeding  young  feather,  until  they  cause  such  inflamma- 
tion, as  death,  in  some  cases,  will  ensue.  The  remedy  is,  separate 
such  fowls  until  the  feathers  come  to  maturity,  when  they  will  discon- 
tinue to  pull  them  out. — Nolan. 

ROUP. — This  is  the  most  obstinate  and  most  fatal  disease 
we  liave  to  contend  with.  It  generally  attacks  fowls  from 
October  to  April.  The  first  symptoms  are  a  difficulty  in  breath- 
ing ;  then  follows  a  swelling  of  the  head  ;  a  discharge  of  foetid 
matter  from  the  nostrils  ensues,  and  the  fowl  pines  away  and 
dies,  unless  taken  in  hand  on  the  first  appearance  of  the  disease. 
This  disease  is  very  contagious,  and  when  it  appears,  it  is  the 
terror  of  the  breeder,  if  he  have  many  fowls.  I  would,  there- 
fore, recommend  the  most  watchful  care,  as  soon  as  cold  weather 
sets  in,  and  the  breeder  should  listen  in  his  poultry-house,  at 
least  twice  a  week,  as  his  hens  get  settled  on  their  perches,  and 
every  fowl  that  breathes  with  difficulty,  should  be  removed 
immediately  to  a  warm,  dry,  well  ventilated  room,  and  treated 
as  follows : 

To  a  quart  of  strong  cider  vinegar,  add "  one  pint  of  cider- 
brandy  or  whiskey,  in  which  dissolve  an  ounce  of  assafoetida. 
Keep  this  mixture  bottled  tight,  and  when  used,  heat  it,  and 
apply  as  a  wash  three  times^a  day  to  the  fowl's  head,  and  as 
warm  as  it  can  be  applied.  Wash  the  entire  head  thoroughly ; 
then  change  the  food  of  the  fowl  to  the  fine  grains,  such  as 


DISEASES    OF    FOWLS.  231 

barley  and  wheat,  with  an  occasional  soft  feed,  in  which  a  little 
flour 'of  sulphur  may  be  mixed,  also  a  little  finely  pulverized 
charcoal.  Give  plenty  of  gravel,  pure  water,  and  fresh  air, 
and  in  nine  cases  in  ten  you  will  effect  a  cure,  if  you  adminis- 
ter the  remedy  in  season,  but  after  a  certain  stage  of  the 
disease,  nothing  can  effect  a  cure. 

If  all  the  ingredients  of  the  above  remedy  cannot  be 
obtained  immediately,  the  vinegar  and  spirits  alone  will  be  of 
great  service,  and  if  neither  cider-brandy  nor  whisky  can  be 
obtained,  get  any  kind  of  spirituous  liquor  for  a  temporary  use. 
A  correspondent  of  Dr.  Bennett,  who  has  used  assafoatida  and 
vinegar  with  success,  writes  me  under  date  of  October,  1.852,  as 
follows : 

I  would  suggest  to  you,  that  the  only  remedy  I  ever  found  for  what 
is  termed  roup,  in  poultry,  when  a  foetid  discharge  at  the  nostrils 
takes  place,  is  to  squeeze  each  nostril  out  by  pressure  with  the  thumb, 
commencing  under  the  eyes,  and  carrying  the  thumb  down  toward 
the  beak,  which  will  remove  all  the  discharge,  then  sponge  the  head 
with  assafostida  dissolved  in  vinegar,  and  squeeze  a  drop  or  two  in 
each  nostril,  and  finish  by  tarring  their  heads  from  above  the  nostrils 
back  to  the  top  of  the  head,  and  keep  them  tarred  until  relieved. 
One  or  two  applications  will  generally  suffice. 

Mr.  Giles,  of  Providence,  who  has  had  forty  years  experi- 
ence as  an  extensive  breeder,  uses  the  following  remedy.  He 


My  method  with  the  roup,  or  swelled  head,  which,  by  the  way,  is 
caused  by  a  cold,  is  as  follows:  As  soon  as  discovered,  if  in  warm 
weather,  remove  the  infected  ones  to  some  well  ventilated  apartment 
or  yard ;  if  in  winter,  to  some  warm  place ;  then  give  a  dessert 
spoonful  of  castor  oil ;  wash  their  heads  with  warm  castile  soap-suds, 
and  let  them  remain  until  next  morning,  fasting.  Scald  for  them  Indian 
meal,  adding  two  and  a  half  ounces  of  Epsom  salts  for  ten  hens,  or  in 
proportion  for  a  lesser  or  larger  number ;  give  it  warm,  and  repeat 
the  dose  in  a  day  or  two,  if  they  do  not  recover. 

Mr.  Melendy,  of  Mount  Healthy,  Ohio,  writes  me  on  this 
subject : 

Of  all  the  diseases  that  I  have  had  to  contend  with,  I  think  the 
roup  is  the  worst.  It  is  contagious.  Of  this  I  am  perfectly  satisfied, 
that  if  a  fowl  in  a  flock  has  it,  that  all  will  take  it,  unless  the  diseased 
one  be  removed.  Roup  is  somewhat  like  the  distemper  among  dogs. 
My  fowls  are  affected  thus :  very  difficult  in  breathing,  gaping,  rattling 
i-n  the  throat,  swelling  of  the  head,  feverish,  eyes  swollen,  with  a  thin, 
slimy  matter,  oozing  from  them,  and  it  sometimes  closes  them  up,  aud 
blindness  is  the  result  There  is  a  discharge  from  the  nose  of  a  thick, 
foetid  matter,  that  is  offensive  to  the  smell.  The  fowl  is  dull  and 
mopy,  and  suffers  much.  If  taken  in  time,  it  can  be  cured,  but  if 


232  DISEASES    OF    FOWLS. 

Buffered  to  run  too  long,  better  kill  the  fowl  and  put  it  out  of  its 
misery,  even  if  it  cost  $20.     My  remedy  is  as  follows: 

Take  the  fowl  and  put  it  in  a  warm,  dry  place;  wash  the  head  and 
throat  with  warm  rain  water  and  castile  soap ;  then  take  spirits  of 
turpentine  and  lard,  mix  well,  and  rub  this  mixture  on  the  head  and 
throat  thoi'oughly  once  a  day,  and  be  particular  to  clean  the  nostrils 
well.  I  have  found  this  remedy  to  be  the  best  I  have  ever  tried  and 
I  have  tried  all  that  are  in  the  different  poultry  books,  without  doing 
any  good. 

Mr.  Melendy  has  given  a  very  truthful  description  of  this 
disease,  and  his  remedy  is  worthy  of  a  trial,  as  he  is  a  very 
extensive  breeder,  and  his  opinion  is  entitled  to  respect. 

FEVER. — This  disease  fowls  are  subject  to  at  the  period  of 
hatching.  The  remedy  is  light  food,  and  some  asperient  med- 
icine, such  as  castor  oil,  or  burnt  butter. 

LICE. — There  is  nothing  more  destructive  to  the  health  and 
prosperity  of  fowls,  than  lice.  The  best  general  preventive,  is 
to  h?iVe  a  box  some  two  to  four  feet  square,  and  eight  inches 
high,  placed  under  cover,  and  sunk  half  its  depth  in  the  ground ; 
then  lill  it  half  full  of  fine,  dry  sand,  mixed  with  an  equal 
quantity  of  wood  ashes.  The  fowls  will  wallow  in  this,  and 
free  themselves  from  lice.  The  following  communication  from 
Mr.  H.  L.  Devereaux,  formerly  of  Boston,  is  a  new  and  valuable 
remedy : 

As  to  the  vermin,  we  have  found  something,  this  past  summer, 
which,  if  not  new,  is  at  least  good,  and  a  sure  remedy.  I  allude  to 
flour  of  Sulphur,  My  way  of  using  it  is  this.  I  purchased  from  a 
tin  store,  a  dredging  box,  (such  as  all  good  housekeepers  have  to  keep 
flour  in,  with  which  to  flour  their  meat,)  filled  it  with  the  sulphur,  and 
then  sprinkled  it  upon  the  fowls,  under  their  wings,  and  also  upon  the 
walking,  roosting  places,  tfcc.  For  the  Shanghae,  we  prefer  flat  strips 
of  board,  say  four  to  six  inches  wide,  and  where  these  are  used,  the 
sulphur  sprinkled  upon  them  will  effectually  keep  away  the  lice. 
Plenty  of  quick  or  air-slacked  lime  is  well  to  be  freely  used  in  the 
houses.  I  will  relate  to  you  one  instance  of  its  good  effect.  Going 
into  my  poultry  house  one  morning,  observing  a  sitting  hen  come  off, 
I  noticed  that  she  looked  very  pale,  much  more  so  than  usual.  At 
once  I  knew  the  cause.  Opening  the  lid  of  the  box  containing  the 
eggs,  such  a  sight  as  presented  itself — the  eggs  literally  covered  with 
lice.  My  dredging  box  was  immediately  put  into  requisition,  and  a 
plentiful  supply  of  sulphur  sprinkled  over  them ;  then  taking  the  hen, 
we  gave  her  plenty  under  the  wings,  and  under  the  feathers  all  over 
her ;  put  her  upon  the  eggs ;  at  first,  she  hesitated,  but  after  a  few 
minutes,  settled  he'rself  down  upon  the  eggs,  and  at  the  end  of  her 
time,  she  hatched  out  all  but  one  or  two  of  the  eggs,  and  reared  all 
the  chicks.  Had  I  not  observed  her  as  I  did.  the  lice  would  have 
killed  her. 


PART    II. 

DESCRIPTION  OP  THE  DIFFERENT  BREEDS  AND  VARIETIES  OS 
WATER-JOWL,  TURKEYS,  PEA  AND  GUINEA  FOWLS. 


CHINA      (OR     TCHIN      TCHlj)      GEESE. 

Mr.  C.  R.  Belcher,  of  East  Randolph,  Massachusetts,  who 
has  been  one  of  the  most  successful  breeders  of  the  above 
denominated  variety  of  geese,  (or  what  is  popularly  considered 
to  have  a  close  affinity  to  the  Anser  tribe,)  furnishes  the  follow- 
ing particulars  respecting  them  : 

The  China  Geese,  -which  I  have  bred  for  some  time  past,  are  gene- 
rally considered  natives  of  Hong  Kong,  and  are  very  often  named 


234  CHINA    GEESE. 

after  that  place ;  but  those  who  have  been  in  that  region,  and  have 
had  inducements  to  observe  the  fact,  concur  in  stating  that  there  is  no 
ground  whatever  for  the  assumption  that  Hong  Kong  is  their  native 
place.  There  are  no  descriptions  of  tame  geese  there,  and  no  semi- 
domesticated  or  wild  varieties  that  answer  the  description,  in  any 
particular,  of  the  China  geese.  The  breed  that  I  own,  which  possess 
great  merit,  were  brought  from  Tchin  Tchu,  and  have,  therefore,  the 
best  right  to  the  possession  of  the  euphonious  title  associating  them 
with  the  place  of  their  origin.  As  the  cultivation  of  hard  names  for 
fowls,  has,  of  late,  been  greatly  in  vogue,  the  correction  of  this  Hong 
Kong  error  may  be  a  matter  of  consequence,  entitling  me  to  some 
credit  a8  its  discoverer.  Let  my  deserts  be  what  they  may  connected 
with  this  particular,  I  am  willing  to  let  them  abide  by  the  general 
title,  China  Geese,  which  is  special  enough  to  designate  the  variety  in 
question,  in  my  humble  opinion,  at  least 

My  stock  of  China  geese  exhibit  all  those  external  characteristics 
the  best  judges  assign  to  the  pure  breed.  The  bill  is  black,  with  a 
black  or  dark-colored  protuberance  surmounting  the  base  of  the  upper 
mandible.  A  feathered  wattle  hangs  under  the  throat ;  a  dark  brown 
stripe  proceeds  from  the  back  of  the  head  down  the  neck,  until  it 
reaches  the  upper  part  of  the  body  between  the  wings ;  the  fronts 
of  the  neck  and  the  breast,  are  yellowish  grey ;  the  abdomen  is  white  ; 
the  back,  and  all  the  upper  parts  of  the  body,  are  of  a  dark,  greyish 
color,  and  the  legs  dark,  with  black  feet. 

As  respects  their  properties,  they  grow  to  the  weight  of  from  forty  to 
fifty  pounds  per  pair  at  mature  size — say  at  two  years  of  age.  They 
are  very  productive ;  in  fact,  in  this  particular,  they  excel  all  other 
varieties  I  know.  They  commence  laying  very  early  in  the  spring 
season,  and  continue  the  production  of  eggs  until  late  in  the  year. 
They  are  not  at  all  erratic  in  their  notions  as  to  the  place  they 
deposit  their  eggs,  but  generally  confine  themselves  to  whatever 
locality  may  be  prepared  for  them  to  lay  in.  They  hatch  three 
broods  every  year ;  but  their  eggs  in  the  early  part  of  the  year  are 
plentiful,  and  can  be  placed  under  other  fowls  to  be  hatched.  They 
are  hardv,  thoroughly  domesticated  in  their  habits,  and  have  no 
requirements  beyond  what  is  common  with  other  descriptions  of 
geese.  Various  authors  class  them  in  the  category  of  swans,  and  I 
think  they  do  so  with  some  degree  of  justification.  Their  majestic 
appearance  when  in  the  water,  the  peculiarity  of  their  cry,  and  other 
features  in  their  deportment  and  physical  character,  give  preponde- 
rance to  the  idea  that  they  are  a  species  of  swan.  They  are  beauti- 
fully ornamental,  and  greatly  prized  in  that  capacity.  They  have 
never  been  in  our  markets  for  sale,  as  food,  but  those  who  have  eaten 
them  have  been  satisfied  of  .their  superiority  for  the  table.  At  pres- 
ent, they  are  too  rare  and  valuable  to  become,  immediately,  an  article 
of  consumption.  Ultimately,  however,  they  will  become  a  very 
eligible  article  in  the  produce  of  the  poultry  raiser.  At  sixteen 
weeks  old,  goslings  (or  cygnets,  as  the  case  may  be)  attain  to  the 
weight  of  fourteen  pounds,  dressed,  and  this  is  by  no  means  a  rare 
thing. 

While  I  have  substantial  reason  to  believe  that  my  stock  is  inferioi 


CHINA    GEESE.  235 

in  purity  to  none,  I  am  not  sure  that  the  following  extract  from  the 
report  of  the  judges  at  the  New  England  Society's  Show  of  Poultry, 
in  1851,  at  Fitchburg  Railroad  Depot,  Boston,  is  not  applicable  to  it. 
The  "  top-knot,"  or  feathery  tuft,  which  appears  on  the  necks  of  the 
females,  in  particular,  and  sometimes  on  those  of  the  males,  of  my 
stock,  is  the  same  as  that  specified  in  the  extract.  This  mark  you  will 
observe  on  the  neck  of  the  female,  in  the  portraits  accompanying  this 
communication.  The  judges  say  : 

"  The  top-knot  descriptions,  however,  as  they  were  shown  by  nearly 
every  contributor,  presented  a  feature  which  might  suggest  a  vagrant 
cross  in  their  composition.  The  indefinite  location  of  this  top-knot 
among  the  specimens  shown,  furnished  your  committee  with  the  sug- 
gestions leading  to  this  doubt.  The  geese  so  distinguished,  appear  to 
be  a  cross  between  the  China  goose  and  the  anas  melanctus,  or  Black- 
Backed  goose.  The  descriptions  given  by  the  best  aiithors,  of  the 
latter  variety,  would  augur  as  much.  It  is  a  native  of  the  country  to 
the  north  of  the  Ganges,  but  is  now  rarely  found  there.  It  is  com- 
mon, however,  in  Ceylon  and  Madagascar,  whence  specimens  have 
come  to  this  country.  The  characteristics,  in  many  particulars,  of 
the  Chinese  (or  Hong  Kong)  geese,  tally  with  those  assigned  to  the 
Black-Backed  variety — -more  especially  in  color  of  body  and  feet,  and 
wedged  tail  feathers." 

It  is  proper,  however,  in  connection  with  the  correctness  of  the 
above  extract,  to  state  that  the  cross — presuming  it  to  exist — is  one 
that  has  blended  two  bloods  of  equal  strength.  This  is  proved  in  the 
repeated  production  of  their  exact  counterparts  in  color  and  physical 
construction,  by  the  breeding  stock. 

I  hope  I  have  made  myself  intelligible  to  you — an  object  I  have 
done  my  best  to  arrive  at. 

Yours,  (fee.,  C.  R.  BELCHER. 

East  Randolph,  Mass.,  13th  Dec.,  1852. 


286 


CHINA    GEESK. 


D.      T.      KING'S      CHINESE      GEESE. 

The  above  portrait  is  said  to  be  a  very  good  representation 
of  China  geese  owned  by  Mr.  King,  from  whom  I  have  received 
the  following  description : 

MR.  MINER — Sir :  It  is  somewhat  remarkable  that  this  rare  and 
beautiful  bird,  so  striking  in  its  appearance,  should  have  escaped  so 
generally  the  notice  of  the  different  writers  of  systematic  works  on 
ornithology.  Doubtless  the  uncertainty  that  has  existed  as  to  its 
correct  name,  and  true  native  country,  may  be  one  cause  of  this. 
Like  the  Poland  fowl,  it  has  been  furnished  with  a  variety  of  names, 
and  original  native  places.  Some  call  it  the  "  India  Goose,"  others, 
the  " Mountain  Goose ;"  Bewick  calls  it  the  "Swan  Goose."  The 
tubercle  at  the  base  of  the  bill,  the  unusual  length  of  neck,  and  its 
graceful  carriage  in  the  water,  would  certainly  give  it  some  claim  to 
relationship  with  the  "  aristocracy  of  lake  and  river."  Cuvier  calls  it 
the  "Chinese  Swan,"  and  says,  "that  it  cannot  be  separated  from  the 
true  swan."  A  goose,  however,  it  decidedly  is,  as  is  clear  from  its 
terrestrial  habits,  its  powerful  bill,  and  its  diet  of  grass,  and  it  is  now 
generally  admitted  that  it  came  from  China.  Indeed,  from  its  general 
aspect,  the  dark  brown  stripe  down  its  neck,  its  small  bright  eye,  its 
wild,  harsh  voice,  its  majestic  step,  and  its  seldom  being  in  a  hurry, 
would  perfectly  harmonize  in  a  picture  of  Chinese  life ;  it  would  group 


CHINA    GEESE.  23*7 

well  in  an  extended  landscape  on  a  placid  river,  beside  a  boat  filled 
with  shaven  fishermen :  but,  however,  it  matters  not  what  country  it 
came  from,  it  deserves  to  rank  in  the  first  class  of  ornamental  poultry. 
It  is  not  only  valuable  for  its  beauty  and  prolificness,  but  for  its  early 
breeding  and  aptitude  to  fatten.  They  breed  from  three  to  four  times 
a  year.  They  begin  to  lay  in  November,  if  the  season  be  mild,  and 
in  January  the  goslings  are  hatched,  and  if  kept  in  a  warm,  dry  place, 
may  be  fit  for  the  table  in  April  or  May.  I  have  not  been  very  suc- 
cessful in  hatching  them,  owing  somewhat,  as  I  fancy,  to  my  having 
no  water  for  them,  except  a  running  stream.  A  quiet  lake  or  pond, 
I  believe  to  be  more  to  their  taste,  and  perhaps  more  conducive  to  the 
fecundity  of  their  eggs.  A  China  goose  will  lay  from  fifty  to  sixty- 
five  eggs  in  a  year,  under  favorable  circumstances,  are  steady  sitters, 
and  will  rear  a  brood  well,  if  allowed  their  own  way ;  no  great  care 
being  necessary  on  the  part  of  the  owner. 

D.  T.  KING. 
Waterville,  Oneida  co.,  N.  Y.,  July,  1852. 


WHITE      CHINESE,      OR      SWAN      GOOSE. 

Of  this  most  beautiful  variety,  which  approaches  nearer  to 
the  swan  than  any  other  goose,  Mr.  Dixon  says : 

The  white  China  goose  is  of  a  spotless,  pure  white — a  very  few 
grey  feathers  have  since  appeared — more  swan  like  than  the  brown 
variety,  with  a  bright  orange-colored  bill,  and  a  large,  orange- colored 
knob  at  its  base.  It  is  a  particularly  beautiful  bird,  either  in  or  out 
of  the  water,  its  neck  being  long,  slender,  and  gracefully  arched  when 
swimming.  It  breeds  three  or  four  times  in  the  season,  but  I  was  not 


238  BREMEN    GEESE. 

successful  with  them,  owing,  as  I  fancied,  to  my  haying  no  water  for 

them,  except  a  rapid  running  stream.     A  quiet  lake  I  believe  to  be 

more  to  their  taste,  and  more  conducive  to  the  fecundity  of  the  eggs. 

************ 

This  bird  deserves  to  rank  in  the  first  class  of  ornamental  poultry, 
and  would  be  very  prolific  under  favorable  circumstances. 

Dr.  E.  Wight,  Dedham,  Mass.,  is  in  possession  of  a  pair  of 
tliis  variety,  recently  imported. 


AMERICAN     WILD      GOOSE. 

Who  is  there  that  has  not  seen  these  noble  birds  in  their 
migrations  from  the  solitary  lakes  and  rivers  of  Canada,  to  the 
warmer  regions  of  the  South  ?  They  seem  to  be  possessed  of 
a  rare  instinct  in  the  order  in  which  they  take  their  flight.  A 
leader,  an  old  gander  of  sagacious  demeanor,  is  chosen  to  take 
the  lead,  and  if  he  be  killed  on  the  wing,  his  followers  break 
their  order  of  flight,  and  alight  to  choose  another  leader.  In 
the  spring  they  return  to  their  haunts  in  the  waters  of  the 
undisturbed  wilderness  to  breed.  They  even  extend  their 
flight  as  far  north  as  the  coast  of  Spitzbergen  and  Labrador, 
and  many  are  found  in  the  Hudson  Bay  territory. 


BREMEN      GEEBE. 

It  is  quite  doubtful  whether  we  have  any  more  valuable 
breed  of  geese  than  this  noble  stock.  They  were  first  imported 
to  this  country  in  1820,  from  the  interior  of  Germany,  and 


POLAND    GEESE.  239 

being  shipped  at  Bremen,  they  derive  their  name  from  that 
circumstance.  They  are  a  pure  white,  weigh  from  thirty  to 
fifty  pounds  a  pair  alive,  lay  early,  raise  but  one  brood  in  a 
season  ;  flesh,  excellent ;  feathers,  soft  and  abundant ;  of  lofty, 
noble  carriage,  and  all  in  all,  a  splendid  water-fowl.  I  pur- 
chased a  pair  in  the  fall  of  1852,  that  were  the  admiration  of 
every  one  who  saw  them ;  far  superior  to  any  other  Bremen 
geese  in  this  vicinity.  The  goose  weighed  twenty  pounds,  and 
the  gander  near  thirty  pounds.  There  are  but  few  such  speci- 
mens in  this  country. 


THE      AFRICAN,      OR      GUINEA      GOOSE. 

Buffon  says,  in  his  natural  history,  that  this  breed  of  geese 
exceed  all  others  in  size,  but  I  think  the  Bremen  geese  equal 
them.  Mr.  John  Giles,  Providence,  R.  I.,  imported  some  fine 
specimens,  of  which  he  says  : 

They  stand  forth  first  of  their  race,  are  brown-grey  on  the  back, 
light-grey  on  the  breast,  brown  on  the  head  and  upper  side  of  the 
neck,  have  a  prominent  black  tubercle  on  the  root  of  the  bill,  with 
pouch  or  dew-lap  under  the  throat,  weigh  from  twenty  to  twenty-five 
pounds  each,  and  are  a  rare  ornamental  bird. 


INDIAN      MOUNTAIN      GOOSE. 

Dr.  Bennett,  at  the  time  of  writing  his  work  on  poultry,  had 
specimens  of  this  breed  in  his  possession,  which  he  says  were 
smaller  than  the  African  geese,  but  very  graceful  in  appearance; 
were  a  dimnish  color  on  the  breast  and  belly;  otherwise  like 
the  African  geese.  The  pouch  or  dew-lap,  hangs  down  from 
one  to  two  inches.  Nothing  is  said  of  them  as  being  of  more 
than  ordinary  value. 


POLAND      GEESE. 

This  variety  is  said  to  be  a  cross  between  the  African  and 
Chinese  goose,  is  of  medium  size,  good  appearance,  easily 
raised,  and  flesh  very  good. 

There  are  a  number  of  breeds  and  varieties  of  geese  in  various 
parts  of  the  world,  not  in  the  preceding  list,  a  full  description 


240  RAISING    GEESE. 

and  history  of  which  would  fill  a  volume  of  the  size  of  this 
work  ;  but  those  I  have  introduced  are  such  as  we,  as  practical 
breeders,  are  most  interested  in. 

x  Our  native  geese,  so  well  known  as  to  require  no  description, 
may  be  raised  to  advantage  in  small  or  large  numbers,  which 
my  readers  probably  fully  understand,  without  requiring  of  me 
any  particular  elucidation  of  this  subject.  As  to  the  compara- 
tive merits  of  our  native  and  foreign  geese,  for  breeding,  value 
of  feathers,  &c.,  the  preference  is  given  to  some  of  the  larger 
breeds,  by  all  who  have  made  a  comparison  of  their  merits. 


RAISING     GEESE. 

A  goose  is  much  more  easily  raised  than  a  dung-hill  fowl. 
For  the  first  week  or  two  after  being  hatched,  they  will  require 
a  little  attention,  being  allowed  to  run  with  the  goose  on  grass, 
and  being  fed  with  a  little  Indian  meal  and  water,  or  soaked 
bread.  Boiled  potatoes  mixed  with  the  meal,  is  very  good 
food.  After  the  first  two  weeks,  corn,  barley,  and  other  grains 
may  be  placed  in  a  box  where  they  can  have  access  to  it,  but 
grass  will  be  their  chief  food,  and  at  a  month  old,  no  care  need 
be  bestowed  on  them,  except  to  provide  a  good  grass  pasture 
and  plenty  of  pure  water,  with  shelter  at  night.  A  goose  sits 
on  her  eggs  four  weeks..  Many  persons  prefer  to  place  their 
eggs  under  hens,  as  the  geese  often  kill  the  goslings  when  just 
hatched,  by  treading  on  them. 


THE    SWAN.  241 


THE      SWA  N. 

Of  all  the  various  water-fowls  in  existence,  the  Swan  is  the 
largest,  most  noble  and  majestic.  There  are  two  species,  the 
pure  white,  and  the  black.  They  are  natives  of  North  America, 
and  inhabit  the  remote  waters,  beyond  the  molestation  of  man. 
As  the  eagle  is  to  the  birds  of  the  air,  so  is  the  swan  to  the 
water-fowl.  Nolan  says : 

The  black  Swan  is  a  native  of  Australia,  where  it  abounds  on  the 
rivers  and  lakes,  and  in  various  islands  along  the  coast,  and  is  usually 
seen  in  flocks,  which  are  shy  and  wary.  Its  first  introduction  into 
Europe  was  noticed  in  1726,  two  living  specimens  having  been  brought 
to  Batavia.  Of  late  years  this  beautiful  bird  has  been  introduced 
more  abundantly  here,  where  it  thrives,  and  breeds  twice  in  the 
year ;  and  there  is  no  doubt  of  its  soon  becoming  almost  as  common 
as  the  tame  swan. 

Its  plumage  is  black,  with  the  exception  of  the  primary,  and  a  few  of 
the  secondary  quill  feathers,  which  are  white;  but  these  are  obscured 
by  the  curled  secondaries,  which  hang,  plume-like,  over  them.  The 
bill  is  of  a  bright  red  color,  crossed  near  the  nail  by  a  whitish  band ; 
its  base,  in  the  male,  is  surmounted  by  a  slight  protuberance,  which 
is  wanting  in  the  female  ;  underpart  of  the  bill,  greyish  white;  legs 
and  feet,  of  a  dull  ash  color ;  iris,  red ;  trachea,  perfectly  simple,  not 
unlike  that  of  the  common  swan.  The  note  of  this  species  is  harsh. 
They  are  generally  seen  in  flocks  of  eight  or  nine  together,  floating 
on  a  lake,  and  when  disturbed,  flying  off  like  wild  geese,  in  a  direct 
line,  one  after  another. 
11 


242 


THE    WILD    TURKEY. 


WILD      TURKEY      COCK. 

The  wild  Turkey  is  a  native  of  North  America,  and  may  still 
be  found  in  some  places,  quite  numerous.  They  were  formerly 
scattered  over  the  whole  country,  to  some  extent,  but  as  the 
forests  fell  before  the  axe,  and  civilization  advanced,  this  noble 
bird  of  the  wilderness  was  exterminated,  or  driven  to  more 
remote  and  secluded  places.  At  the  period  when  the  West  was 
first  settled  by  whites,  the  wild  turkey  was  found  in  numerous 
flocks  in  all  the  wooded  country  in  the  vicinity,  of  the  Missis- 
sippi valley ;  and  perhaps  there  is  no  game  that  is  more 
exciting  to  the  hunter.  A  hundred  of  these  majestic  birds 
would  in  those  times  rise  on  the  wing  before  the  hunter,  with 
rifle  in  hand,  fly  into  the  surrounding  trees  without  fear,  and 
as-  a  lusty  old  gobbler  fell  at  the  crack  of  the  rifle,  gobble,  gob- 
ble, gobble,  wras  heard  on  every  side,  and  the  hunter  had  only 


THE    DOMESTIC    TURKEY. 


243 


WILD      HEN      TURKEY. 

to  load  and  fire,  till  sometimes  a  dozen  would  be  killed  before 
the  flock  would  take  a  distant  flight !  Talk  of  hunting  now-a- 
days !  Why,  it  is  a  miserable  farce  in  comparison  to  such 
sport  as  our  western  pioneers  had  in  their  early  days. 

The  main  characteristics  of  both  cocks  and  hens  are  the 
same  as  of  our  domestic  turkeys,  as  they  have  sprung  directly 
from  the  wild  stock.  The  wild  turkey  makes  her  nest  in  the 
leaves  of  the  trees,  in  some  sheltered  thicket,  and  generally 
brings  forth  a  brood  of  fifteen  to  twenty  young  at  a  litter. 


THE      DOMESTIC      TURKEY. 

The  domestic  turkey  is  a  profitable  bird  to  raise,  but  is  more 
difficult  to  rear  than  geese  or  dunghill  fowls.  There  are  several 
varieties  of  the  domestic  turkey,  if  color  may  be  considered  as 


244  THE    DOMESTIC    TURKEY. 

constituting  different  varieties,  but  there  is  very  little  difference 
in  any  among  us  atxpresent,  as"  regards  size,  or  other  qualities 
that  render  one  variety  sought  for  in  preference  to  another.  I 
have  recently  heard  of  some  splendid  large  specimens  in  Cali- 
fornia, that  weigh  seventy  pounds  the  pair,  and  I  shall  make 
an  effort  to  obtain  the  stock. 

The  turkey  must  have  a  wide  range,  to  be  profitable.  They 
require  a  dry  place  to  make  their  nests  in,  on  the  ground,  and 
a  secluded  nook.  It  is  a  good  plan  to  provide  a  bushel  or  two 
of  dry  leaves  for  their  nests.  They  sit  from  thirty  to  thirty-one 
days.  The  young  require  no  food  the  first  day,  but  for  the 
next  few  days,  they  should  be  fed  on  boiled  egg  and  soaked 
bread,  or  curd  mixed,  or  a  few  pounded  crackers,  mixed  with 
the  egg,  is  very  nourishing.  When  they  are  two  weeks  old, 
meal  and  grain  should  be  fed  to  them,  and  they  should  be  well 
housed  in  stormy  weather,  as  nothing  causes  a  young  turkey 
to  droop  sooner  than  dampness.  With  care,  and  suitable  food, 
they  may  be  easily  raised.  They  are  subject  to  diseases,  but 
no  specific  rules  can  be  adduced  to  effect  cures,  as  in  the  case 
of  the  gapes,  &c.,  in  chickens.  Curds  are  probably  the  best 
food  that  can  be  given  them,  but  not  to  be  fed  wholly  on  that 
food,  unless  they  are  enabled  to  pick  up  a  good  portion  of  their 
living  in  the  range  that  is  allowed  them. 


PEA-FOWL. 


245 


PEA     FOWL. 

i 

Of  all  the  domestic  fowls  that  are  subservient  to  man,  the 
pea  fowl  is  the  most  beautiful,  and  no  one  can  look  on  its  gor- 
geous plumage,  marked  as  by  the  pencil  of  the  most  exquisite 
painter,  and  not  wonder  at  the  power  of  Nature,  in  thus  pro- 
ducing so  magnificent  a  bird.  In  the  vegetable  kingdom  we 
find  gorgeous  hues  that  no  painter  can  imitate ;  and  in  the 
animal  kingdom  the  art  of  man  is  mocked,  and  his  power  of 
decoration  humbJed  in  the  beautiful  colors  of  the  leopard  and 
zebra ;  but  among  the  feathered  tribes  is  the  chef-cTouvre  of 
Nature's  exquisite  art.  But  Nature  is  seldom  lavish  in  more 
than  one  of  her  eminent  gifts  to  the  same  thing.  The  most 
harmonious  songsters  are  the  most  uncomely  to  the  sight,  and 
in  bestowing  the  gorgeous  plumage  to  the  pea  .fowl,  she  with- 
held the  melody  of  her  voice,  and  gave  her  a  screech,  that 
would  seem  to  belong  to  a  hyena,  or  some  other  repugnant 
animal. 

The  pea  fowl  seldom  lays  before  the  third  season,  lays  from  five 
to  seven  eggs,  and  sits  from  twenty-seven  to  twenty-nine  days. 


246 


GUINEA    FOWLS. 


WHITE      GUINEA      FOWL. 

This  species  of  the  "Pintado,"  is  a  pure  white,  and  possesses 
the  common  characteristics  of  the  variegated  fowl.  They 
are  bred  in  various  parts  of  the  United  States.  The  above  is 
a  portrait  of  a  specimen  in  possession  of  Dr.  Eben  Wight,  Ded- 
ham,  Mass.,  and  his  stock  is  said  to  be  very  beautiful. 


VARIEGATED      GUINEA      FOWL. 

This  bird  is  not"  kept  for  profit,  but  for  ornament.  They  are 
proof  against  confinement  by  any  fence,  and  will  not  thrive 
unless  allowed  their  liberty.  They  are  abundant  layers.  Their 
period  of  incubation  is  twenty  eight  days.  The  male  must  be 
kept  away  from  the  eggs,  as  he  is  prone  to  destroy  them. 


AYLESBURY   DUCK. 


247 


AYLESBURY     DUCK. 

This  species  of  duck  is  a  pure  white,  and  is  considered  the 
best  for  breeding,  all  things  considered,  of  any  known  variety. 
Mr.  Giles,  of  Providence,  the  famous  breeder,  says : 

This  breed  I  brought  out  with  me  from  England.  They  are  white, 
with  white  bills ;  flesh,  of  a  beautiful  white ;  weigh  from  eight  to  ten. 
pounds  a  pair,  and  are  considered  a  rarity  in  London,  and  command 
one-third  more  price  there  than  any  other  ducks. 

I  have  made  considerable  inquiry  in  regard  to  the  best 
breed  of  ducks  among  us,  and  I  am  fully  satisfied  that  this  is 
the  breed,  above  all  others,  to  be  kept.  They  are  much  larger 
than  our  common  breeds,  their  flesh  is  of  a  better  flavor,  and 
their  feathers  are  nearly  equal  to  those  of  geese.  If,  however, 
any  one  has  a  better  breed,  he  will  do  the  public  a  favor  by 
communicating  a  description  to  me  for  publication  in  the 
Northern  Farmer. 


248  CAYUGA    BLACK   DUCK. 


CAYUGA      BLACK      DUCK. 

This  breed  is  spoken  of  in  high  terms  by  those  who  have 
bred  them.  I  have  secured  a  pair  from  the  yard  of  Dr.  Eben 
Wight,  Dedham,  Mass.,  who  sends  me  the  following  history 
and  description  of  them  : 

The  above  representation  is  by  no  means  a  flattering  one,  for  this 
variety  is  even  more  sizeable  than  there  delineated.  This  variety  of 
duck  has  been  bred  by  Mr.  J.  S.  Clarke,  of  Caynga  county,  IS".  Y.,  for 
near  twenty  years,  and  is  undoubtedly  a  cross  between  some  wild 
variety,  and  the  domestic  duck,  and  though  Mr.  Clark  has  bred  them 
for  that  length  of  time,  they  were  first  brought  to  notice  through  the 
columns  of  the  Albany  Cultivator,  in  1851.  Mr.  Howard,  the  editor, 
(now  of  the  Boston  Cultivator,)  having  seen  in  the  market  some  ducks 
of  this  variety,  dressed,  and  weighing  about  eight  pounds  each,  and 
always  having  an  eye  to  the  useful,  he  traced  them  to  Mr.  Clark,  since 
which  the  stock  has  become  more  widely  disseminated,  and  is,  in 
size,  superior  to  the  Aylesbury,  a  trio  of  which  were  exhibited  at  the 
"Birmiugham  Poultry  Show,"  weighing  (alive)  twenty -two  pounds, 
being  considered  as  monsters  at  even  that  weight,  while  these  dresa 
from  seven  to  nine  pounds,  making  the  trio  twenty-one  to  twenty- 
seven  pounds,  ready  for  the  spit. 

The  "  Cayuga  Black  Duck,"  is  very  prolific,  giving  about  one  hun- 
dred and  fifty  eggs  in  the  year;  are  both  ornamental  and  quiet;  not 
disposed  to  ramble,  and  never  taking  to  wing. 

I  have  some  fine  specimens  in  my  yard  at  Dedham. 

Notwithstanding  the  Doctor  speaks  so  highly  of  this  variety, 
I  think  it  does  not  equal  the  Aylesbury  duck,  all  things  eon^ 
sidered. 


MUSCOVY  DUCK. 


249 


MUSC  0  VY     DUCK. 

This  is  said  to  be  a  distinct  species.  They  are  much  larger 
than  our  common  ducks,  and  are  generally  of  a  dark,  rich,  blue- 
black  color,  byt  sometimes  are  found  of  all  colors.  They  are 
distinguished  by  a  caruncled  membrane,  of  red  color,  compared 
to  a  cherry,  covering  the  cheeks,  and  extending  behind  the  eyes, 
and  swells  at  the  root  of  the  bill.  This  tubercle  is  wanting  in 
the  female,  as  also  the  tuft  of  narrow  feathers  which  hangs 
behind  the  head  of  the  male. 


FEMALE      MUSCOVY      DUCK. 

There  is  a  difference  of  opinion  in  regard  to  the  prolificnesa 
of  this  breed,  and  their  value,  but  my  opinion  is  that  they  are 
only  valuable  as  a  "fancy  "  fowl.     I  have  never  bred  them. 
11* 


250  WOOD   DUCK. 


WOOD     DUCK. 

This  beautiful  water-fowl  is  described  by  Wilson,  as  follows : 

This  most  beautiful  of  all  our  ducks,  ha3  probably  no  superior 
among  its  whole  tribe,  for  richness  and  variety  of  colors.  It  is  called 
the  wood  duck,  from  the  circumstance  of  its  breeding  in  hollow  trees; 
and  the  summer  duck,  from  remaining  with  us  chiefly  during  the 
summer.  It  is  familiarly  known  in  every  quarter  of  the  United  States, 
from  Florida  to  Lake  Ontario,  in  the  neighborhood  of  which  latter 
place  I  have  myself  met  with  it  in  October.  It  rarely  visits  the  sea 
Bhore  or  salt  marshes,  its  favorite  haunts  being  the  solitary,  deep,  and 
muddy  creeks,  ponds,  and  mill-dams  of  the  interior,  making  its  nest 
frequently  in  old,  hollow  trees,  that  overhang  the  water. 

The  summer  duck  seldom  flies  in  flocks  of  more  than  three  or  four 
individuals  together,  and  most  commonly  in  pairs,  or  singly.  The 
common  note  of  the  drake  is  peet,  pcet ;  but  when,  standing  sentinel, 
he  sees  danger,  he  makes  a  noise  not  unlike  the  crowing  of  a  young 
cock,  oe  eek  1  oe  eekl  Their  food  consists  principally  of  acorns,  seeds 
of  the  wild  oats,  and  insects.  Their  flesh  is  inferior  to  that  of  the 
blue-winged  teal.  They  are  frequent  in  the  markets  of  Philadelphia. 

Among  other  gaudy  feathers  with  which  the  Indians  ornament  the 
calumet  or  pipe  of  peace,  the  skin  of  the  head  and  neck  of  the  sum- 
mer duck  is  frequently  seen  covering  the  stem. 

This  beautiful  bird  has  often  been  tamed,  and  soon  becomes  so 
familiar  as  to  permit  one  to  stroke  its  back  with  the  hand.  I  have 
seeji  individuals  so  tamed  in  various  parts  of  the  Union.  Captain 
Boyer,  collector  of  the  port  of  Havre  de  Grace,  informs  me,  that  about 
forty  years  ago,  a  Mr.  Nathan  Nicols,  who  lived  on  the  west  side  of 
Gunpowder  Creek,  had  a  whole  yard  swarming  with  summer  ducks, 
which  he  had  tamed  and  completely  domesticated,  so  that  they  bred, 
and  were  as  familiar  as  any  other  tame  fowls;  that  he  (Captain 
Boyer)  himself  saw  them  in  that  state,  but  does  not  know  what 
became  of  them.  Latham  says  that  they  are  often  kept  in  European 
menageries,  and  will  breed  there. 

The  wood  duck  is  nineteen  inches  in  length,  and  two  feet  four  inches 


WOOD    DUCK.  251 

in  extent ;  till,  red,  margined  with  black ;  a  spot  of  black  lies  between 
the  nostrils,  reaching,  nearly  to  the  tip,  which  is  also  of  the  same 
color,  and  furnished  with  a  large,  hooked  nail ;  irides,  orange  red ; 
front,  crown,  and  pendant  crest,  rich,  glossy,  bronze  green,  ending  in 
violet,  elegantly  marked  with  a  line  of  pure  white,  running  from  the 
upper  mandible  over  the  eye,  and  with  another  band  of  white  pro- 
ceeding from  behind  the  eye,  both  mingling  their  long,  pendant  plumes 
with  the  green  and  violet  ones,  producing  a  rich  effect ;  cheeks  and 
sides  of  the  upper  neck,  violet;  chin,  throat,  and  collar  round  the 
neck,  pure  white,  curving  up  in  the  form  of  a  crescent,  nearly  to  the 
posterior  part  of  the  eye ;  the  white  collar  is  bounded  below  with 
black;  breast,  dark  violet  brown,  marked  on  the  fore  part  with 
minute  triangular  spots  of  white,  increasing  in  size  until  they  spread 
into  the  white  of  the  belly ;  each  side  of  the  breast  is  bounded  by  a 
large  crescent  of  white,  and.  that  again  by  a  broader  one  of  deep 
black ;  sides,  under  the  wings,  thickly  and  beautifully  marked  with 
fine,  undulating,  parallel  lines  of  black,  on  a  ground  of  yellowish 
drab ;  the  flanks  are  ornamented  with  broad,  alternate,  semicircular 
bands  of  black  and  white  ;  sides  of  the  vent,  rich,  light  violet ;  tail 
covers,  long,  of  a  hair-like  texture  at  the  sides,  over  which  they 
descend,  and  of  a  deep  black,  glossed  with  green ;  back,  dusky 
bronze,  reflecting  green  ;  scapulars,  black;  tail,  tapering,  dark  glossy 
green  above,  below,  dusky ;  primaries,  dusky,  silvery  hoary,  without, 
tipped  with  violet  blue  ;  secondaries,  greenish  blue,  tipped  with  white ; 
wing  coverts,  violet  blue,  tipped  with  black ;  vent,  dusky ;  legs  and 
feet,  yellowish  red  ;  claws,  strong  and  hooked. 

The  above  is  as  accurate  a  description  as  I  can  give  of  a  very  per- 
fect specimen  now  before  me. 

The  female  has  the  head  slightly  crested ;  crown,  dark  purple ; 
behind  the  eye,  a  bar  of  white ;  chin  and  throat,  for  two  inches,  also 
white ;  head  and  neck,  dark  drab  ;  breast,  dusky  brown,  marked  with 
large  triangular  spots  of  white ;  back,  dark,  glossy,  bronze  brown, 
with  some  gold  and  greenish  reflections.  Speculum  of  the  win-gs, 
nearly  the  same  as  in  the  male,  but  the  fine  penciling  of  the  sides, 
and  the  long  hair-like,  tail  coverts,  arc  wanting;  the  tail  is  also 
shorter. 


262  PINTAIL  DUCK. 


PINTAIL     DUCK^ 

This  is  a  native  of  the  United  States.  Wilson  and  Audubon 
state  that  it  is  an  inland  bird,  and  very  abundant  on  the  waters 
of  the  Mississippi,  and  feeds  on  beech  nuts,  that  are  found  in 
the  woods  adjoining  the  water.  Nolan  says : 

The  pintail  duck  is  a  bird  of  graceful  proportions,  with  a  slender 
neck  and  elongated  tail,  and  undergoes  the  changes  of  color  usual  in 
the  duck  tribe,  the  male  bird  assuming  the  appearance  of  the  female, 
after  the  breeding  season.  The  flesh  is  of  the  finest  flavor ;  it  weighs 
about  two  pounds.  "When  in  full  plumage,  the  head  and  throat  of  the 
male  bird,  are  dark  hair  brown ;  the  lower  part  of  the  neck,  and  two 
streaks  running  up  to  the  hind  part  of  the  head,  the  breast,  and  under 
part,  white;  back  of  the  neck,  deep  brown.  Flanks  and  thighs,  with 
five  transverse  black  lines ;  under  tail  coverts,  velvet  black.  Back, 
marked  with  alternate  varying  lines  of  black  and  greyish  white. 
Scapulars,  black ;  tertials,  long,  acuminate,  and  black,  with  yellowish 
white  margins;  lesser  wing  coverts,  deep  smoke  grey;  speculum, 
blackish  green,  with  a  bronzed  reflection,  bordered  below  with  white ; 
quills,  brown;  two  middle  tail-feathers,  elongated,  acuminate,  and 
black ;  the  rest,  brown,  margined  with  white ;  bill,  black ;  .legs, 
blackish  grey. 


NATITE   DUCKS. 


253 


CRESTED,      OR     TOP-KNOT     DUCK. 

Latham  says  of  this  species : 

This  inhabitant  of  the  extremity  of  America,  is  of  the  size  of  the 
wild  duck,  but  is  much  longer,  for  it  measures  twenty-five  inches  in 
length;  a  tuft  adorns  its  head;  &  straw  yellow,  mixed  with  rusty 
colored  spots,  is  spread  over  the  throat,  and  front  of  the  neck ;  the 
wing  speculum,  blue  beneath,  edged  with  white ;  the  bill,  wing,  and 
tail  are  black ;  the  irides,  red,  and  all  the  rest  of  the  body  ashy  grey. 

THE      ROUEN     DUCK. 

This  variety  came  originally  from  Rouen,  in  France,  hence 
the  name.  They  are  said  to  be  preferred  to  the  native  breeds 
of  England,  are  more  prolific,  and  their  flesh  is  of  a  better 
flavor.  They  are  dark-colored,  similar  to  our  native  ducks,  but 
are  larger. 


NATIVE     DUCKS. 

Our  native  ducks  are  too  well  known  to  require  a  description. 

The  rearing  of  ducks  is  a  pleasant  and  profitable  business, 
where  a  pond  or  stream  of  water  is  convenient.  If  no  pond 
or  stream  be  near,  a  tub  may  be  sunk  in  the  ground,  with 
a  plug-hole  to  let  out  the  water  when  impure,  the  earth 
being  excavated  some  inches  below  the  tub.  A  few  stones 
should  be  placed  on  one  side  of  the  tub,  (inside,)  to  allow  the 
ducks  to  get  out  with  facility,  when  the  water  is  low. 


254  BEARING   DUCKS. 

Ducks  lay  in  the  night,  and  make  no  nests.  They  should 
be  yarded  under  cover  in  the  laying  season,  and  the  ground 
strewed  with  hay  or  straw.  They  sit  thirty-one  days.  The 
young  require  the  same  food  for  a  few  days  that  is  suitable  for 
chickens,  and  when  two  or  three  weeks  old,  they  will  eat  any 
thing  set  before  them,  and  nothing  appears  to  be  injurious  in 
the  way  of  food  given  to  them,  but  they  will  kill  themselves  if 
allowed  to  run  at  large  in  the  season  of  "  rose-bugs,"  so  called. 
I  lost  one  hundred  young  ducks  on  a  certain  occasion,  from  this 
cause.  I  had  them  all  hatched  under  hens,  and  I  made  a  pen 
one  foot  high,  for  them  to  run  in,  in  one  corner  of  which  I 
made  a  shelter  for  them  to  lodge  at  night.  They  were  all 
growing  finely,  and  some  were  a  month  or  more  old,  when  I 
fancied  that  it  would  be  a  good  plan  to  let  them  out.  I  did  so, 
and  they  ran  over  the  field,  seizing  every  bug  in  their  reach, 
till  their  crops  were  expanded  with  the  living  mass.  In  forty- 
eight  hours,  every  duck  had  "  kicked  the  bucket."  Let  this  be 
a  warning  to  all  duck  breeders. 


author  respectfully  solicits  communications  from 
Poultry  Breeders,  for  publication  in  the  "  NORTHERN  FARMER," 
(see  advertisement  of  it,)  which  has  a  greater  circulation  among 
Fowl  Fanciers,  than  any  other  journal  in  this  country. 


INDEX. 

DUNGHILL      FOWLS. 

FAOX. 

Bantam  Fowls, 164 

Bavarian     "      160 

Black  China  Fowls, 94 

Black  Poland    "      144 

Black  Spanish  "      133 

Bolton  Grey,  or  Creole  Fowls,   151 

Brahma  Pootra  "      , 26 

Chittagong  "      86 

Cochin  China  "      80 

Dorking  "      11 

English  Eed  Cap  "      130 

Frizzled  "      159 

Game  "      98 

Great  Java  "      *..., 96 

Great  Malay  " 96 

Guelderland  "      155 

Hong  Kong  "      88 

Hoang  Ho  "      92 

Italy  "      161 

Jersey  Blue  *      97 

Native  Dominique  "      157 

Rumpless  "      160 

Russian  " 128 

Silky  «      163 

Silver  Pheasant  " 158 

Shanghae  "      41 

Spangled  Hamburgh          "      , 148 

Spangled  Poland  "      146 

Surrey  "      24 

Tonquin  "      162 

White  Calcutta  "  ..131 


256  INDEX. 

MISCELLANEOUS. 

PAOK. 

Breeding, 215 

Caponizing, 226 

Chickens  Raised  Without  a  Mother 211 

Cocks  not  Necessary  to  Produce  Eggs, 197 

Coops, 213 

Diseases  of  Fowls, 228 

Duration  of  Impregnation, 196 

Eggs,  how  Preserved, 196 

Eggs  that  Produce  Cocks  and  Pullets, 220 

Eggs  that  are  Impregnated, 220 

Eggs,  Number  Laid  in  a  Year, 222 

Fattening  Fowls, 207 

Food  for  Fowls, 200 

Fowls  Kept  in  Large  Numbers, 221 

Gapes  in  Chickens, . . '. 209 

Incubation, 184 

Incubation,  Artificial 190 

Lice  on  Chickens, 211 

Lime  for  Fowls 222 

Longevity  of  Fowls 197 

Management  of  Chickens, 208 

Manner  of  Feeding, '. 203 

Nest  Boxes, 195 

Number  of  Hens  to  a  Cock, 196 

Poultry  Houses, 172 

Pepper  Beneficial  to  Fowls, 223 

Salt  Injurious  to  Fowls, 224 

Value  of  Poultry  Manure, 224 

Watering  Fowls, 183 


WATER     FOWLS,     ETC. 

Geese .233 

Ducks, 247 

Swans, 241 

Pea  Fowls, 245 

Guinea  Fowls, 246 

Turkeys 242 


The  undersigned  will  sell 

WHITE  AND  BUFF  SHANGHAES,  OR  COCHIN  CHINAS, 

IMPERIAL    CHINESE, 
Brahma  Pootras,  CMttagongs,  or  Grey  Shanghaes, 

BLACK  SPANISH,  AND  BLACK  BANTAMS, 


AND  OP  THE  BEST  STOCK  IN  THE  COUNTRY, 

From  fowls  of  his  own  importation  from  China  and  England,  or  from  specimens 
which  took 

FIRST    ANI>    SEC01¥I>    PREMIUMS, 

At  many  of  the  recent  exhibitions.  Fowls  to  be  sent  to  a  distance  will  be  carefully 
cooped  and  forwarded  according  to  directions.  Gentlemen  who  favor  him  with 
orders  will  please  enclose  the  amount  they  wish  to  expend,  and  give  a  full  description 
of  the  fowls  they  desire. 

Fowls  will  be  cooped  and  started  in  good  health  and  condition,  after  which  the 
undersigned  will  not  be  responsible  for  them. 

JAMES  McCLINTOCK,  M.  D,, 

President  of  the  Pennsylvania  Poultry  Society, 

Philadephia  College  of  Medicine, 
Philadelphia,  June  21,  1353.  Fifth,  South  of  Walnut  Street. 


m 

AND   MILL-WRIGHT'S  'ASSISTANT. 


This  is  the  most  valuable  book  for  practical  Millers  and  Mill-wrights,  extant,  having 
recently  been  published  by  William  C.  Hughes,  who  is  himself  a  practical  miller, 
and  has  spent  the  best  portion  of  his  life  in  the  business  of  constructing,  planning, 
and  managing  of  Flouring  Mills,  and  the  Manufacture  of  Flour.  In  preparing 
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The  Book  is  12  mo.  size,  contains  230  pages,  and  sold  at  the  low  price  of  $1  25  In 
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THE  HOME  DOCTOR! 


THIS  is  a  new  and  valuable  book  for  every  family  in  the  United  States, 
and  one  that  may  be  consulted  with  perfect  safety.  As  its  titlepage  indi- 
cates, it  is 


OR    FAMILY    MANUAL: 

giving  tho  Causes,  Symptoms,  and  Treatment  of  Diseases  ;  with  an  ac- 
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Appended  to  which  are  Recipes  for  making  various  Medicines  and  articles 
of  Diet  for  the  sick-room.  The  whole  written  for  general  use  and  daily 
practice.  By  JOHN  B.  NEWMAN,  M.  D." 

Also,  accompanying  this  book,  or  separate,  is 

BOOK  OF  HERBS,:::: • 

Devoted  exclusively  te>  Herbs,  giving  their  names,  varieties,  descrip- 
tion, medical  properties  and  doses,  use,  time  of  gathering,  and  many 
other  directions  very  useful  for  every  family  to  know,  and  written  ex- 
pressly for  family  use." 

The  Book  of  Herbs  is  devoted  solely  to  Popular  Medical  Botany,  and 
will  furnish  on  that  point  all  the  desired  information  wanted  for  general  use 

Such  a  manual  is  very  valuable  to  all  families  in  the  country,  who  desire 
to  inform  themselves  relative  to  the  properties  of  plants  that  grow  around 
them  ;  and  not  only  to  find  their  names  and  virtues,  but  tho  best  method 
of  deriving  benefit  from  them.  The  properties  of  each,  more  especially 
the  medicinal,  are  confirmed,  in  most  instances,  by  personal  experience 
O"  Remedies  are  given  for  poisoning  by  vegetables,  and  general  direc- 
tions for  avoiding  noxious  plants,  and  not  mistaking  them  for  others. 

In  preparing  this  book  the  author  has  had  three  important  things  in 
view : 

1st.  The  prevention  of  Disease  ; 

2d.   The  arrest  of  Disease  when  threatened  by  it ;  and 

3d.   The  cure  of  Disease  by  the  most  simple  remedies  to  be  obtained. 

*»*  The  two  books  are  bound  together,  and  constitute  a  neat  volume 
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Price,  for  mail  edition,  25  cents, — being  the  cheapest  book  in  the 
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WILLIAM    ALLING, 

Bookseller  and  Publisher,  Nos.  10  <fc  12  Exchange  Street. 
Rochester,  May,  1853. 


D.  P.  NEWELL'S 

PRIZE  POULTEY. 

(For  Portraits,  see  Frontispiece  of  this  Book.) 


I  have,  the  past  winter  and  spring,  purchased 

BRAHMA  POOTKA  FOWLS, 

which  received  the  FIRST  PREMIUM,  and  are  uni- 
versally called  the  finest  and  largest  specimens  of 
that  noble  breed  of  fowls.  I  huve  now  on  hand 
all  the  different  breeds  of 

THE  LATE  AND  CHOICE  IMPORTATIONS, 

and  have  made  arrangements  to  breed  them  pure, 
and  shall  be  able  to  furnish  the  very  best  fowls 
and  eggs  that  can  be  had  in  the  United  States. 

The  Unparalleled  List  of  Premiums 

which  I  received  at  the 
NEW    YORK    STATE    FAIR 


held  at  Utica,  September,  1852;  also  the  same 
month  in  Monroe  County,  at  Rochester,  must  be  satisfactory  to  every  one,  that  my 
stock  of  fowls  are  SECOND  TO  NONE  IN  AMERICA.  I  shall  be  happy  at  any 
tiuie  to  show  my  collection  of  fowls.  All  orders  promptly  attended  to. 


Rochester,  Monroe  Co.,  N.  Y. 


D.  P.  NEWELL. 


PREMIUMS  AT  TS.  Y.  STATE  FAIR,  UTICA,  1852. 

Best  lot  of  Pure  Bred  Fowls— First  Premium,  toD.  P.  Newell,  of  Rochester,.. $10  00 

White  Surry  Dorkings— First,  to  D.  P.  Newell 8  00 

•Shanghaes,  Chittagongs,  Malays,  Ac.— First,  to  D.  P.  Newell 8  00 

(Under  this  head  all  of  the  Asiatic  varieties  are  included.) 

Jersey  Blues— Second,  to  D.  P.  Newell 2  00 

Cochin  Chinas,  to  D.  P.  Newell Vol.  Trans. 

PREMIUMS  AWARDED  AT  MONROE  COUNTY  FAIR,  1852. 

The  first,  to  D.  P.  Newell,  for  the  best  coop  of  fowls,  of  any  variety $2  00 

do  do  do  do  White  Shanghaes 200 

do  do  do  do  Buff  do  2  00 

do  do  do  do  Black  do  2  00 

do  on  Cantons 2  00 

The  Second,  on  Bantams 1  00 

[From  the  Rochester  Daily  Democrat,  May  12.] 

LARQR  SALK  OF  IMPROVED  FOWLS.— Mr.  D.  P.  Newell  sold  on  Monday,  the  following 
breed  of  fowls  to  Dr.  E.  C.  Winchester : 

One  Brahma  Pootra  crower,  and  two  hens $150  00 

Eight  Brahma  Pootra  hens 92  83 


I^irHeir,  F^tyeir 


GEORGE  W.  MERCHANT'S 

C  E  L  E  B  R  AT  E  D 


OR,  UNIVERSAL  FAMILY  EMBROCATION  ! 

ClnparaUeled  in  the  history  of  Medicine,  as  the  MOST  REMARKABLE 
External  Application  ever  discovered, 

For  Horses  and  Human  Flesh. 


GOOD    FOR 

RHEUMATISM,  Chil- 
blains, Corns/Whitlows 
Caked  Breasts,Cramps, 
Boils,  Bites  of  animals, 
Weakness  of  the  joints, 
Contractions  of  mus- 
cles, Burns  and  Scalds, 
Frost-bites,  Painful 
Nervous  Affections, 
I  Chapped  hands,  Swel- 
'  lings,  Tumors,  Tooth- 
ache, Old  Sores,  Flesh 
Wounds,  Galls  of  all 
kinds,  Sprains,  Bruises, 
Cracked  Heels,  Ring- 
bone, Pole  Evil,  Wind- 
galls,  Callous,  Spavins, 
Sweeney,  Fistula,  Sit- 
fast,  External  Poisons,  Scratches  or  Grease,  Spring-halt,  Sand-cracks, 
Lameness,  Strains,  Foundered  Feet,  Mange,  Horn  Distemper,  and 
many  other  diseases  incident  to  man  and  beast. 

Prepared  only  by  GEORGE  W.  MERCHANT,  Chemist,  Lockport,  N".  y., 
and  for  sale  by  Druggists  generally. 


OF  COUNTERFEITS.^ 

The  genuine  has  "  G.  W.  MEBCHANT,  LOCKPORT,  N.  T."  blown  in 
the  glass,  and  the  proprietor's  name,  in  his  own  hand  writing,  over 
the  cork.  Sold  by  every  respectable  dealer  in  the  United  States 
and  Canada. 

B^F"  For  testimonials,  Synopsis  of  Diseases,  and  mode  of  treatment, 
see  Pamphlet,  -which  accompanies  each  bottle.  A  pamphlet  of  de- 
scription may  also  be  had  gratis  of  the  Agent 


A  DISTRESSING  CASE  OF  RHEUMATISM. 

LITTLE  UTICA,  N.  Y.,  APRIL,  1850. 
DR.  G.  W.  MERCHANT: 

Dear  Sir — I  must  give  you  a  sketch  of  what  your 
Gargling  Oil  has  done  for  my  wife. 

For  a  number  of  years  she  had  been  afflicted  with  the  Rheumatism 
to  such  a  degree,  that  her  wrists,  joints  and  fingers  were  drawn  into 
knots;  she  had  no  use  of  them.  She  was  perfectly  helpless ;  could 
not  dress  or  undress  herself  for  years.  Her  feet  and  legs  were  al- 
most as  bad  as  her  hands,  so  that  for  two  years  or  more,  I  had  been 
obliged  to  lift  her  in  and  out  of  a  carriage  or  wagon.  But,  thank 
God,  she  is,  by  the  use  of  your  celebrated  Gargling  Oil,  almost  well 
again.  She  can  walk,  and  does  her  own  work,  or  the  principal  part  of 
it  If  the  foregoing  is  worth  anything  to  you  we  shall  be  glad  of  it 
I  remain  yours,  <fec.,  S.  H.  POWELL. 

TO  HOUSEKEEPERS  AND  FARMERS. 

PENDLETOX,  MARCH  16,  1850. 

DR.  GEO.  W,  MERCHANT:  Sir — Having  used  and  witnessed  the  ef- 
fects of  your  celebrated  Gargling  Oil  in  the  cure  of  flesh  wounds, 
galls,  bruises,  and  wounds  of  whatever  nature,  on  horses  or  cattle, 
and  have  used  it  on  my  own  flesh  with  the  most  decided  satisfac- 
tion, and  for  chapped  or  cracked  hands  it  is  a  dead  shot  the  first  ap- 
plication, as  I  have  had  abundant  means  of  knowing.  I  have  used 
it  with  decided  effect  in  the  cure  of  sore  necks,  on  oxen,  occasioned 
by  pressure  and  chafing  of  the  yoke  in  wet  weather.  It  also  cured  a 
horse  of  mine  of  a  severe  wound  of  long  standing,  on  the  shoulder, 
when  other  medicines  had  failed ;  among  which  was  British  Oil,  by 
the  recommendation  of  others — was  fairly  tried,  but  to  no  purpose. 

To  conclude,  I  have  used  it  in  every  case  where  medicine  was  re- 
sorted to,  with  entire  satisfaction. 

Yours  respectfuUy,         (Signed)  JAMES  D.  TAYLOR. 

TO   OWNERS   OF    HORSES. 

THIS  MAY  CERTIFT,  That  I  have  had  for  many  years  the  care  of  from 
ONE    HUNDRED   TO    TWO   HUNDRED  HORSES, 

and  have  made  use  of  MERCHANT'S  GARGLING  OIL  for  two 
years  past,  and  can  safely  say,  that  for  all  diseases  that  Horses  are 
liable  to,  I  never  saw  its  equal.  I  use  about  one  bottle  per  month, 
and  recommend  it  to  the  public  as  the  best  medicine  for  Horses  now 
in  use.  E.  D.  MINOR. 


THE  NORTHERN  FARMER. 


This  monthly  periodical  contains  sixteen  large  octavo  pages,  of  closely  printed 
matter,  at  the  low  price  of  thirty-one  cents  a  year,  or  Jive  copies  for  one  dollar,  sent 
to  different  addresses,  and  different  post  offices,  if  desired.  This  paper  contains 
more  sound,  practical  reading,  for  the. price,  than  any  other  paper  in  the  United 
States.  It  is  devoted  chiefly  to  PRACTICAL  AGRICULTURE,  but  it  embraces  the 
subjects  of  POULTRY,  BEES,  HORTICULTURE,  and  STOCK  of  all  kinds— their 
diseases  and  cures,  and  in  brief,  every  thing  of  ink-rest  to  the  farmer  and  persons 
with  small  plats  of  ground,  so  far  as  it  is  possible  in  a  work  of  this  size.  Every 
month  it  will  contain  a  valuable  article  on  POULTRY;  also  one  on  BEES;  and  it 
will  also  embrace  some  of  the  most  important  questions  of  the  day,  of  direct  interest 
to  the  people,  without  interfering  with  politics.  This  Journal  was  commenced  by 
the  subscriber,  who  is  Editor  and  Proprietor,  in  January,  1852,  and  at  this  date, 
(June,  1853,)  has  FIFTEEN  THOUSAND  subscribers  !  No  other  paper  in  the  world, 
it  is  believed,  of  its  character,  is  so  popular,  which  its  immense  circulation  fully 
proves,  having  been  in  existence  but  about  seventeen  months.  Of  the  hundreds  of 
testimonials,  received  in  regard  to  this  paper,  a  few  very  brief  extracts  are  subjoined  : 
"  Your  paper  is  better  than  I  expected.  It  is  certainly  one  of  tke  best  I  have  ever  seen,  either  in  thi» 
country  or  Europe." 

I  think  your  paper  the  best  of  the  kind  I  know  of.    It  excels  all  tlutl  come  to  my  office." 
I  tako  three  Agricultural  papers,  but  read  yours  first,  because  it  ib  short,  pithy,  and  to  the  point." 
I  have  discontinued  the  Genesee  Farmer,  which  I  took  five  years.     I  now  take  the  Northern  Farmer, 
ch  I  consider  a  better  paper." 

Your  paper  is  very  popular  here.    Some  prefer  it  to  the  Rural  New  Yorker." 
Every  one  likes  yonrpajier  here.    They  say  it  is  equal  to  any  $2  pni^r  they  can  get." 
I  consider  your  paper  the  best  for  the  price  that  I  ever  saw.    I  am  a  judge  of  such  things,  having  been 
In  the  publication  business." 

Enclosed,  is  $1  for  the  Northern  Farmer;  the  best  paper  of  its  size  in  the  world." 
I  am  much  pleased  with  your  paper  for  this  year.    I  take  twelve  Agricultural  papers,  and  yours  suits 
me  the  best." 

"  Your  paper  u  thought  so  much  of  here,  that  the  females  are  subscribing  in  numbers,  to  send  it  to  their 
friends  in  distant  towns." 

This  paper  contains  a  YOUTH'S  DEPARTMENT,  devoted  to  lessons  of  instruction 
in  industry,  good  manners,  morals,  history,  &c.  Also  a  LADIES'  DEPARTMENT, 
devoted  to  subjects  pertaining  to  household  duties,  and  other  interesting  matter,  and 
whole  clubs  of  ladies'  names  are  frequently  sent  in. 

The  Farmer  circulates  all  over  the  United  States.  It  has  40  subscribers  in  New 
Orleans ;  20  at  Macon,  Geo. ;  25  at  Clarksville,  Tenn. ;  47  at  Floyd  C.  II.,  Va. ;  45  at 
Fort  des  Moines,  Iowa ;  140  at  Pittsburgh,  Pa. ;  55  at  South  Bend,  Ind. ;  83  at  Win- 
throp,  Me. ;  190  at  Utica,  N.  Y.,  and  so  on  in  every  State  in  the  Union. 

In  October,  1853,  the  subscriber  will  issue  a  sample  number  of  an  enlarged  paper, 
to  be  called  by  the  same  name,  but  to  contain  forty-eight  octavo  pages  at  one  dollar 
a  year,  or  a  copy  free  to  any  one  who  sends  in  a  club  of  four  names,  and/owr  dollars 
in  cash;  ten  copies  for  seven  dollars;  ticenty  copies  for  twelve  dollars — only  sixty 
cfents  per  copy !  The  present  sixteen  page  paper  will  be  continued,  and  made  up 
from  the  contents  of  the  large  edition.  All  persons  who  will  lend  a  hand  at  circulating 
these  periodicals,  will  please  send  for  specimen  numbers,  which,  with  prospectuses, 
will  be  sent  free  of  charge.  The  forty-eight  page  paper  will  embrace,  besides  the 
subjects  before  enumerated,  the  most  interesting  incidents  in  travels,  history,  &c., 
and  will  be  beautifully  illustrated  with  costly  engravings.  Its  character  cannot  be 
fully  given  here,  and  you  must  send  for  a  specimen  number.  No  expense  will  be 
withheld,  to  render  it  the  cheapest  and  most  interesting  periodical,  that  has  ever 
emanated  from  the  American  press.  Address,  post-paid, 

T.  B.  MINER, 

Clinton,  Oneida  Co.,  N.  Y. 

$W  Agents  wanted  to  obtain  subscribers  for  the  above  papers,  and  sell  the 
"  Domestic  Poultry  Book,"  &c.  Active  men,  of  the  right  kind,  can  make  from  $2  to 
$3  a  day.  Send  for  a  "  Circular  to  Agents,"  containing  the  conditions,  and  full 
particulars ;  circular  to  be  ready  in  October,  1S58. 

AMERICAN    BEE-KEEPER'S    MANUAL. 

This  work  contains  350  pages,  and  35  fine  engravings,  and  is  the  standard  work  on 
Bees.  It  contains  all  necessary  rules  for  the  successful  management  of  this  insect, 
with  drawings  of  Hives,  Bee  Houses,  Ac.,  &c.  Price,  $1  00,  handsomely  bound,  and 
sent  to  any  part  of  the  United  States,  post  paid.  Address  as  above. 


CHOICE  POULTRY. 

THE  subscriber  has  for  sale  the  following  varieties  of  DOMESTIC  FOWLS, 
purely  bred  from  the  best  imported  and  premium  stock  in  the  country, 
viz. :  — 

Cochin.  China, -Canton  China,  —  Buff,  Brown,  Black,  White, 

and  Gray  SHANGHAES. 

Brama  Pootras,  or  Gray  CHITTAGONGS  ;—  Sumatra  Games; 
Polands,  Dorkings,  Black  Spanish,  and  Bantams. 

Also,  in  connection  with  the  above,  I  am  able  to  furnish  purely  bred 

SUFFOLK  PIGS, 

from  the  finest  and  choicest  importations. 

All  orders  promptly  attended  to,  and  Stock  carefully  forwarded  to  any 
part  of  the  "United  States  or  Canada.  Address 

J.  A.  C.  BUTTERS, 

WEST  ROXBUKY,  MASS, 


SCRIBNER'B 


FOR  SHIP  BTJTLDERS,  BOAT  BUILDERS, 

.      JLUMUER  MERCHAJVTS,  FA»UIERS  &    MECHANICS. 

Being  a  correct  measurement  of  Scantling,  Boards,  Plank,  Cubical 
Contents  of  Square  and  Round  Timber,  Sawlogs,  Wood,  etc.,  com- 
prised in  a  number  of  Tables ;  to  which  are  added  Tables  of  "Wages 
by  the  month,  Board  or  Rent,  by  the  week  or  day,  railroad  distances, 
<fcc.  Also  interest  Tables,  at  seven  per  cent. 


ar.  ivc.  j 

AUTHOR  OP  "  ENGINEER'S  AND  MECHANIC'S  COMPANION," 
ENGINEER'S  POCKET  TABLE  BOOK,  etc.,  etc. 

Scarcely  is  it  possible  to  add  to  the  recommendations  of  the  above 
book,  more  than  to  give  its  title  page.  Every  one  who  is  engaged  in 
buying,  selling,  measuring  or  inspecting  Lumber  of  any  kind,  will  at 
once  appreciate  a  work  of  this  kind.  No  pains  or  expense  has  been 
spared  in  revising  and  enlarging  this  edition,  to  make  it  in  every  re- 
spect convenient  and  accurate. 

The  Log  Table  was  computed  by 
drawing  Diagrams,  as  shown  by  the 
cut,  for  each  and  every  log,  from  12 
to  44  inches  in  diameter,  and  the 
width  of  each  board  taken,  after 
taking  off  the  wane  edge.  The  sum 
total  of  each  board  constitutes  the 
amount  each  log  will  give,  and  if 
there  can  be  any  dependence  plac- 
ed upon  such  strictly  mathematical 
accuracy,  no  one  will  hesitate  for  a 
moment  to  abide  the  results  here 
given,  as  the  method  adopted  by 
the  author  can  result  in  nothing  else 
than  strict  honesty  and  mathemat- 
ical accuracy,  to  the  parties  interested. 

The  best  evidence  of  the  usefulness  and  popularity  of  this  book  is 
the  rapid  and  extensive  sale  of  over  75,000  in  a  very  short  time,  while 
the  sale  is  constantly  increasing.  We  do  not  hesitate  to  say  that  no 
book  of  its  size  and  price  contains  more  useful  or  correct  tables. 

In  all  new  and  lumber  countries  the  book  will  be  found  very  con- 
venient, as  it  comprises  much  that  is  useful  for  the  Farmer,  Mechanic, 
and  business  man. 

ORDERS  SOLICITED,  from  Agents,  Booksellers,  and  others,  to  whom  a 
liberal  discount  •will  be  made.  J£^~  Price  25  cents.  FIVE  COPIES  sent  to  one 
address  for  ONE  DOLLAR,  postage  paid.  The  books  can  be  had  of  Booksellers 
generally,  throughout  the  United  States. 

GEORGE  W.  FISHER, 

>£fiH*M«e  Street. 


i  POULTRY 


THE   SUBSCRIBER   WILL   SELL 


BRAHMA  POOTRA,  IMPERIAL  CHINESE,  BLACK  SPANISH, 

Shanghae,  Bantam  and  Game  Fowls, 

Besides  numerous  others,  all  of  which  are  WARRANTED  pure  a&d  true 
to  their  names,  and  of  the  best  stock  in  the  country. 


will  be  carefully  got  ready  and  forwarded  to  any  part  of  the  United 
States  or  Canadae,  according  to  directions.      &T"  Purchas- 
ers will  do  well  by  calling  and  examining  my  stock, 
or  by  addressing 

WILLIAM    FULMER, 

Stewartsrille,  "W  arreu  Co.,  N,  J. 
All  orders  promptly  attended  to. 


14  DAY  USE 

RETURN  TO  DESK  FROM  WHICH  BORROWED 
AGRICULTURE   LIBRARY 

40  Giannini  Hall  -  Tel.  No.  642-4493 

This  book  is  due  on  the  last  date  stamped  below,  or 

on  the  date  to  which  renewed. 
Renewed  books  are  subject  to  immediate  recall. 


DEC  10  1973 


LD  21-40m-2/69 
(J6057slO)476 — A-32 


General  Library 

University  of  California 

Berkeley 


